To sweep or not to sweep? Lanka get mixed results

COLOMBO: At the end of the third day’s play in the second Test, Sri Lankan batsmen were a confused lot over whether the sweep shot is a good option or not.

If you look at their first innings, the verdict is that it has effectively cost Sri Lanka the match and series after captain Dinesh Chandimal’s was caught attempting to sweep Ravindra Jadeja, triggering a procession which saw the hosts crash to 183 all out in 49.4 overs in the first innings. In the second essay, the script changed dramatically with the same shot being their most productive which helped Kusal Mendis counter the threat of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella, the only batsman to get a half-century in the first innings, revealed that their captain’s downfall didn’t put them off the strategy to take on the Indian spinners with the sweep shot on a turning wicket.

“We have to back ourselves 100 %. We might get out playing positive shots. We are now in a good situation by playing sweep shots,” said Dickwella.

“We were training hard on sweeps and reverse sweeps. Batting coach Hashan Tillakaratne and other coaches specifically speak about the sweep shots and encourage us to do that. When it comes to a spinning wicket, we have to play the sweep and that’s an option,” added Dickwella.

Talking about the refreshing approach in the second innings after their poor performance in the morning, Dickwella revealed it was the result of a brain-storming session in the dressing room during the lunch break.

“Our approach wasn’t right in the first innings, but we had a chat before the second innings and it paid off. We had the sweep shot as one of our options. We didn’t want to sweep so early. After the first innings we had a different approach and that paid off.”

As for his first innings cameo, Dickwella said: “I backed my strength. I used to play the sweep and the reverse sweep a lot. It was the best option on a spinning wicket against Ashwin and Jadeja. I swept about 80 % of my shots.”

I used to play the sweep and reverse sweep a lot. It was the best option against Ashwin and Jadeja. I swept about 80 % of my shots On how he dealt with spin

We were training hard on sweeps and reverse sweeps. When it comes to a spinning wicket, we have to play the sweep and that’s an option On Lanka’s shot selection