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Thrilling draw offers encouragement for one team, respite for the other

Vithushan Ehantharajah07-May-2023Glamorgan wore their disappointment proudly. Yorkshire’s relief trailed them like a soon-to-be discarded bow tie. Even as the end of this match came, Yorkshire clinging on nine down, Glamorgan clawing at that final wicket, here were two teams at the climax of an engaging final day at Headingley still saving face.Both remain winless in Division Two, but Glamorgan have far more to hold onto. This was their most impressive performance of the season so far, bossing Yorkshire throughout, and they perhaps only have themselves to blame for not finishing the job. The hosts will be happier overall, particularly when a batting line-up ransacked for 106 inside 31 overs a couple of days ago stood up for 96 overs, thriving for an outside shot of their 492 target, then surviving as matters got serious.The former and, by proxy, the latter was down to stand-in captain Adam Lyth, whose magnificent 174 was head and shoulders above anything anyone from Yorkshire managed over these four days. He is due to hand over the armband to Shan Masood who arrives this week, but the form and the example set can go a long way to holding together a listless dressing room.Two weeks after a fourth-innings knock of 69 not out that would have taken Yorkshire over the line against Sussex had the weather not intervened, he has saved the club from some further on-field introspection. Rarely has a club had to wake up every morning and check the papers to gauge its level of crisis. It will be of some consolation they can browse Monday’s offerings without any mention of being the bottom-ranked side in the country. Thanks to avoiding a second defeat of the season and picking up eight points, they are 17th out of 18.There was a moment when the worst came to mind. Lyth’s departure triggered what looked a terminal collapse. But Jordan Thompson stood up with an entertaining blend of cold-blooded resistance and hot-headed shot-making, bringing up 51 in 50 deliveries thanks to 10 fours and a six, before playing out a tantilising final over from Michael Neser to drag Yorkshire to safety. Only after he blocked the final delivery did he show any emotion, turning to the home dressing room immediately to punch the air.As valiant a final day as it was for Yorkshire, it was also worthy of lament. The capitulation after tea of 6 for 134 inside 27.2 overs was a bleak reminder of the fallibility of this group. The fight is commendable, but things should not have got this close.Glamorgan’s persistence pushed the match right to the limits, with four wickets for Timm van der Gugten and three to James Harris. But it is hard not to look back at the culmination of day three and spot an error of judgement. Had they pulled out earlier – rains came, with stumps eventually called following their declaration on 352 for 2 – they might have already been on the road back to Cardiff with something to sing about. Given the cloud cover at that point and the lack of it throughout Sunday, they could have nipped early wickets, as they did on the evening of day one when Yorkshire were 62 for 5.Wise after the event? No doubt. Lyth could have been out of action before we arrived on the final day. Then again, he could have been dismissed on 49 when Harris just missed a caught-and-bowled chance, and definitely should have been on his way for 69 when Marnus Labuschagne dropped the simplest of chances at second slip off van der Gugten.Was the chase of 492 ever “on”? You know what – yes. Probably. Certainly when Neser, first change after 12 overs, was driven through the covers for four and then hooked over backward square leg for six by Lyth. Neser, fresh after almost 48-hours with his feet up following 7 for 32 in the first innings, was supposed to be integral to Glamorgan’s search for 10 wickets in 96 overs. And here Lyth was, dashing him around to all parts. A hat-trick and career-best figures in the first innings, followed by 23 thankless overs in the second – what a sport.It was still “on” when Lyth moved to a 30th first-class century off delivery number 135, wasting little time in the nervous nineties or even the anxious eighties with six fours taking him from 76 to 102 in 12 legitimate deliveries.By then, he had George Hill for company. The allrounder was engaging throughout, facilitating Lyth who brutally exposed Andrew Salter’s flaws, smashing him for two fours and two sixes across two overs. The assault took their partnership into three figures and forced David Lloyd to pull his offspinner out of the attack immediately.However, a dart at the target was now an outside bet given the loss of Jonny Bairstow. England’s butcherer of fourth-innings chases last summer strode out after lunch, a break brought on by Finlay Bean’s dismissal to leave Yorkshire 99 for 1. With 393 more needed, Bairstow, in at No. 3, had a clear remit. Nine balls in, an attempt to cart van der Gugten through cover resulted in a slip catch to Labuschagne. Glamorgan went wild, Yorkshire sighed.Out walked Hill, ahead of the more established Saud Shakeel and Dawid Malan, presumably to keep the right-left thing going. A straight drive for four off his first delivery gave us all we needed to know about intentions.He certainly didn’t need the generosity of full tosses and long hops from Labuschagne bowling offies before tea. Fours off the first four deliveries of the last over of the middle session drew cheers from those bathing in the sun on the north-east corner. The second, punched through midwicket, took Hill to a sixth score of fifty or more – and second of the season.The requirement in the final session of 38 overs was still a daunting 252 to go. Hill was livid when he fell 16 deliveries after the restart – edging a drive through to keeper Chris Cooke for van der Gugten’s third – though Malan’s appearance as the eighth-ranked T20I batter in the world did make you wonder what fireworks we might see on Sunday evening. At the other end, 2022’s men’s Hundred MVP was still playing his shots, moving past 150 for the eighth time in his career.Just as the rate had moved above up to eight an over, Malan was trapped lbw by former Middlesex colleague Harris. Then, at 5.25pm, Lyth was given out trapped in front for Jamie McIlroy’s first, with a second right after as Dom Bess pocketed a king pair. Thompson got behind his first delivery, ensuring there was no second Glammy hat trick.Inexplicably, a Glamorgan victory was back on the table: four wickets needed in 17 overs. The second new ball was taken two overs later and given straight to van der Gugten and Neser.Saud Shakeel and Thompson set about seeing things out in their own way, inexplicably going shot for shot in a fifty stand that took just 51 deliveries, thanks largely to Thompson’s propensity to swing at anything in the slot.After 13 were scored from Neser’s third over with the new ball, Harris was brought back in at the Rugby Stand End and snicked Shakeel through to Labuschagne with his second delivery. With his sixth, Matt Fisher was lbw for another pair.And then calm, out of nowhere. The sun came out to bathe us from the west, Thompson thumped an 11th boundary to move to first fifty of the campaign. Mickey Edwards, too, struck three boundaries of his own. Then, to the final delivery of the penultimate over, he decided to leave van der Gugten.Off stump was knocked back and into the final over we went, Thompson on strike with an injured Ben Coad watching on helplessly at the other end. A couple shot off the seam and through to the keeper, but Thompson held firm.

Alex Carey and Cameron Green added 135 before Australia lost five wickets in a session

Tristan Lavalette22-Mar-2022
Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali chipped away at Australia’s first innings of 391 after quick Naseem Shah had earlier staged a spectacular fightback for Pakistan to leave the deciding third Test in the balance.Pakistan reached stumps on day two at 90 for 1 with in-form Shafique 45 not out and Azhar unbeaten on 30 as the hosts trail by 301 runs. Naseem’s brilliant 4 for 58 from 31 overs marked by reverse swing mastery helped restrict Australia and move this match forward with the series deadlocked after two draws in batting friendly conditions in Rawalpindi and Karachi.Naseem’s expertise with the old ball dashed Australia’s hopes of a massive first innings total on a slow surface in the first Test played in Lahore since 2009. Australia, however, still managed a decent score on a pitch offering some welcome assistance for weary bowlers, with cracks evident, but Pakistan started their first innings reasonably comfortably during a prolonged final session lasting 39 overs.Related

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After Naseem’s exploits provided a spark, Pakistan’s response started slowly and a stalemate ensued as Australia waited for signs of reverse swing. Their wish was granted in the 11th over bowled by Cameron Green prompting skipper Pat Cummins to bring himself back on and he struck immediately after removing Imam-ul-Haq lbw for 11. After twin centuries in Rawalpindi, left-hand opener Imam has thudded back to earth with three straight failures.Cummins could have had a second wicket after in-form Shafique edged between wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Steven Smith at first slip, who were both stationary. It was a frustrating missed opportunity for Australia and continued the struggles behind the stumps for Carey and Smith this series.Finally batting on his home ground in his 94th Test, Azhar started with a gorgeous drive to the boundary and then counterattacked spinner Nathan Lyon with a six over long-on. With stumps approaching, he shut up shop and defied a tantalising late burst from Cummins.After his tough debut, where he finished with the figures of 2 for 188 from 62.4 overs, legspinner Mitchell Swepson came on in the 22nd over and almost had Azhar stumped then produced deliveries that skidded low but turn was minimal.After Naseem’s reverse swing prowess, there was expectation that Mitchell Starc could replicate something similar but he struggled to find the type of rhythm that crashed through Pakistan’s first innings in the second Test.Cameron Green was cleaned up by some excellent bowling from Naseem Shah•AFP/Getty Images

After winning a crucial toss, Australia’s first innings comprising 133.1 overs was a rollercoaster and dominated by two century partnerships. Usman Khawaja and Smith rescued them from 8 for 2 with a 138-partnership before Green and Carey produced a record 135-run partnership in the highest sixth-wicket stand for Australia in Pakistan.Having started the second day in a delicate position at 232 for 5, Carey and Green batted fluently through the first session to frustrate Pakistan and restore Australia’s control. But they both missed out on maiden Test centuries after falling early in the second session leaving Khawaja as Australia’s only centurion of the three-match series.Australia had appeared set for a commanding first innings total until they lost five wickets in the middle session, as they crumbled under a superb spell of reverse swing from Naseem who was rewarded for unwavering bowling through the innings.In a riveting contest between two of cricket’s brightest young talents, Naseem had the last laugh when he clean bowled Green with a gem of an inswinger to end the allrounder’s 163-ball knock. Green fell just short of his highest Test score of 84 but it was another impressive innings from the 22-year-old who showcased a mixture of strong defence, marked by an intent on getting his huge frame forward, and exquisite strokes on the off side.Carey, in his eighth Test, also produced an encouraging performance to help strengthen Australia’s middle-order after notching his second straight half-century. Having entered the series under some pressure after an inconsistent Ashes with bat and gloves, Carey’s 105-ball knock was marked by superb driving to thwart the quicks and perfectly executing reverse sweeps to fluster the spinners.Pakistan’s five-pronged attack toiled manfully amid oppressive conditions after appearing to be staring down the barrel of again conceding a massive first innings score. But they hung in and took full advantage of reverse swing after lunch through young guns Naseem and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who also claimed four wickets.Naseem’s scintillating burst late in the middle session was a rare sight of ball dominating bat in this series. In a more familiar sight, an arm wrestle ensued in the final session as little separated these teams after two days.

Club will interview a minimum of one BAME candidate to replace Jim Troughton

George Dobell02-Nov-2020Warwickshire believe they have become the first “professional first-class county” to adopt the principles of the Rooney Rule in launching the appointment process for a new head coach of their men’s team.The club, which sacked Jim Troughton from the position last week, published an advert for the vacant position on November 2. Applications must be received by November 14 with an appointment expected around a month later.In that advert, the club has reiterated its “commitment to representing the communities it serves” and its desire to employ “a diverse and inclusive workforce at all levels of the organisation”. As a result, Warwickshire have confirmed the “principles of the Rooney Rule will be adopted to encourage applications from suitably qualified BAME candidates.” This is, they state, “the first time that a professional first-class county has adopted these principles”.The Rooney Rule – named after Dan Rooney, the former chair of the NFL’s diversity committee – is a form of affirmative action that demands ethnic-minority candidates are interviewed for head coaching and senior administrative positions.”In line with Warwickshire’s Equal Opportunities policy and desire to adopt the principles of the Rooney Rule, should the club receive applications from suitably qualified BAME candidates they will be added to the vacancy short list with a minimum of one BAME candidate invited to first interview,” the advert continues.While Warwickshire recently signed Manraj Johal, a seamer who has graduated from their own academy, by the time the 2020 season finished the club had no non-white player or senior coach on their staff. And while the club played a part in the development of the likes of Kabir and Moeen Ali as young players, both felt a need to move to Worcestershire to win greater opportunity. Their nephew, 16-year-old Ismail Mohammed, recently made the same decision.The current management at Warwickshire are acutely aware of this failure of the squad to reflect the local community and are determined to rectify it. As well as this adoption of the Rooney Rule, they have recently signed up to the African-Caribbean Engagement (ACE) programme.”There shouldn’t be a barrier in the mind of anybody with the right experience who wants to apply for this job,” Stuart Cain, Warwickshire’s chief executive, said. “So, we think it’s right to adopt the principle of the Rooney Rule in the same way as many of the world’s leading sports organisations have.”Birmingham is one of the UK’s, if not Europe’s, most diverse cities and we have to reflect this when holding a mirror up to the club and how we operate at every level, from the board down”.Among the other criteria required by the advert, a “tangible proof of developing teams capable of winning domestic cricket competitions” is demanded, as is “proven success at winning trophies, domestically or internationally”. The likes of David Saker, currently with Sri Lanka, and Ottis Gibson, currently with Bangladesh, would be certain to gain an interview if they apply while, from closer to home, Graeme Welch, the club’s current bowling coach, would also be a strong candidate.The principles of the Rooney Rule will also be utilised by the ECB when appointing specialist coaches to work with both the England team and the most promising county players. They are expected to appoint specialist batting, seam bowling and spin bowling coaches in the coming months.Marcus Trescothick and Jon Lewis (the former Durham head coach) are expected to challenge for the batting position, while Jon Lewis (the former England seamer and current England U19 coach) and Welch are well placed for the seam-bowling job. Jeetan Patel is favourite for the spin position.

ESPNcricinfo’s live updates and analysis of Australia v South Africa

Liam Brickhill06-Jul-2019

The elections had initially been announced for May 19, but were postponed on technical grounds

Madushka Balasuriya11-May-2018Sri Lanka Cricket’s board elections will be held on May 31 after the country’s sports ministry gave its go-ahead following consultation with the Attorney General’s department.SLC elections had initially been announced for May 19, but were postponed on April 27 on technical grounds. SLC contested that they had received permission from previous Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera to appoint an election committee at an Executive Committee meeting, but new Sports Minister Faiszer Mustapha insisted on following constitutional protocol, which dictates that such an appointment requires the approval of the general membership at an Extraordinary General Meeting.As such SLC called for an EGM on May 19. However, with the SLC constitution mandating a 40-day period between calling an election and holding one at an Annual General Meeting, elections could only be held in June at the earliest. With the present board’s term ending on May 31, this would have resulted in an interim committee being appointed until the elections. While in reality this would have likely seen the present Executive Committee remain in charge in the guise of an interim committee, it would have stripped them of the power to pass annual accounts at an AGM – a pressing concern for SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala.SLC therefore petitioned the sports ministry to hold elections on May 31 or at an earlier date, citing the fact that the nomination deadline had shut on April 27. With no new nominations being accepted, SLC felt the 40-day waiting period could be waived – an assessment the sports ministry eventually agreed with.It is expected that two camps headed by former SLC office bearers Nishantha Ranatunga and Jayantha Dharmadasa will contest against the incumbent board headed by Sumathipala.

Matt Renshaw, who scored 60, said that he responded to what the Indian players said to him with a smile to try and unnerve their bowlers

Daniel Brettig05-Mar-2017Australia’s day two plan was simple: bat all day and wear down an Indian bowling attack trundling through an 11th Test match of the season. But the execution of this plan was made difficult by an untrustworthy Bengaluru pitch, and a snarling, desperate home side, intent on getting in the Australians’ faces, and in turn, their wickets.What played out was riveting, low-scoring stuff. Australia’s 197 for 6 was their lowest score in a full day’s play since Nagpur in 2008, when a Mexican stand-off on a flatter pitch – MS Dhoni employed 8-1 off-side fields which the tourists could not shake – reaped a mere 166 runs. But, where Simon Katich in particular met that grind with mounting frustration, Matt Renshaw responded to Virat Kohli’s niggle with a broad grin, and a deliberate one at that.”I don’t try and say too much out there,” Renshaw said after his 60 from 196 balls took him past 400 balls faced for the series. “I just try to smile, because in my past experience, smiling seems to unnerve the bowlers a bit more than talking back. They seemed to get quite frustrated.”I was just trying to enjoy it and laugh at what he was saying because some of it was quite funny. He [Kohli] was just reminding me to run off and go to the toilet again, which happened in Pune, so it was quite funny. We all took it pretty well and we know that they’re trying to get under our skin because we’ve got a one-nil lead in the series.”Renshaw had a ringside seat as Kohli tried pointedly to distract his opposite number Steven Smith. “There was a bit of talk, but I think that’s because they’re trying to unnerve each other and try and get under the skin. But it was all good fun and good contest out there,” he said. “It was really loud out there when he was doing that. It’s something I’m probably not used to, but it’s about embracing different conditions and challenges that we get.”Incredibly, the surface at the Chinnaswamy Stadium may actually be more difficult than the one prepared for the first Test in Pune. Spin, bounce and pace are all variable, requiring Renshaw and the rest of the Australians to adapt further still to every ball spun or seamed down towards them.”I think Pune we knew was going to spin. This one, we don’t really know which one is going to spin. That’s the challenge,” Renshaw said. “Some are turning quite a lot, some are not turning as much, some are going on with the angle. It’s trying to play for the one that doesn’t turn and then if it goes past the bat, it goes past the bat. But it’s probably a bit harder against the quicks because it’s not bouncing as much or some are going up.”I think every run is vital. We sort of felt like we were just about to get on top of the game when I got out, so it’s quite frustrating from that point of view. If we’d got a few more runs, me and Shaun Marsh, we could have had complete control of the game.”The mental challenge presented was underlined by how successive Australian batsmen fought their way into a position where they may have been able to assert themselves, only to drop their guard. Smith did so, then Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, and finally Shaun Marsh. “It probably wasn’t a great move from me, but Jadeja is a really smart bowler and he probably saw me coming, so he fired it down there,” Renshaw said. “I tried to get a bit of pad on but just missed it.”However, the visitors were still able to ward off the threat of a batting collapse, steadily adding runs across the day to leave Matthew Wade and Mitchell Starc with a chance to build a significant lead on day three. In doing so, it appeared that all had taken something from watching Renshaw, who said his own determination to stay at the crease had been derived from a creative interpretation of junior cricket rules devised to give everyone a go.”I wasn’t the biggest bloke. Instead of retiring us on balls, they retired us on runs, so once we got to 50, we had to retire and someone else would come in,” Renshaw said. “I didn’t really want anyone else to bat, I just wanted to bat for myself. I tried to get to 50 as slow as possible. I don’t think it was my fault, it was my size.”

Hardik Pandya began his international career with three successive wides, and Suresh Raina pulled out late of a James Faulkner delivery that hit his stumps

Brydon Coverdale26-Jan-2016The maiden over
Maiden as in first. Definitely not as in free of runs. Debutant Hardik Pandya was waiting for his first over, and then he was waiting for his first over to end. The eighth of India’s innings and the first of Pandya’s career began with three consecutive wides down leg side as Steven Smith walked inside the line, and two more followed later in the over. It meant the over lasted 11 deliveries, and given that a six and a four came off two of the legal balls, he finished with figures of 1-0-19-0 and five wides.The comeback, part one
Nearly five years after he last played for Australia, Shaun Tait took the new ball once again. His first ball was 150kph, a quick reminder of his capabilities. But a four and a six followed later in the over – Tait was unlucky the six was not a wicket, more on that shortly – and by the end of his four overs he had leaked 45 runs. It left Tait with the worst economy rate of his 20-game T20 international career.The comeback, part two
Okay, Shane Watson played Australia’s most recent T20 international, so this was not technically a comeback. But he has retired from Tests and was overlooked for the recent ODI series against India, so this was his first outing for his country this summer and thus felt like a comeback. He could hardly have made a stronger start. His first over brought two wickets – Rohit Sharma caught at mid-on off an offcutter and Shikhar Dhawan caught behind from a slower bouncer – and only one run. Watson’s return of 4-0-24-2 was a reminder that he could be a highly valuable member of Australia’s World T20 side.The fielding woes
Kane Richardson’s four overs leaked 41 runs without a wicket but just as costly was his work in the field. The fourth ball of Tait’s opening over of the game was top-edged by Rohit Sharma and Richardson at long leg misjudged the flight, running in before realising he had to be back on the boundary, and spilled over the rope what could have been a regulation take had he stayed there in the first place. Another poor piece of judgment came in the 19th over when Cameron Boyce’s throw from long-on found the bowler Richardson in front of the stumps instead of behind, which almost certainly cost Australia the chance at a run-out.The pull-out
On 14, Suresh Raina was all set to face James Faulkner, but then he wasn’t. As Faulkner let go of the ball Raina backed away and pulled out, indicating that he was not ready. The ball crashed into his stumps, but the umpire Simon Fry had no hesitation in calling a dead ball. Faulkner looked unimpressed, but then again, he often does.

David Warner has paid a further price for his wayward behaviour earlier on the tour of England by being pulled out of the Ashes tour

Daniel Brettig at Trent Bridge10-Jul-2013David Warner has paid a further price for his wayward behaviour earlier on the tour of England by being pulled out of the Ashes tour. He will instead go to South Africa with Australia A in order to gain match practice, the national selector John Inverarity has said.Having decided not to play Warner in the first Test against England at Trent Bridge, the selectors have now added him to the A squad, though Inverarity suggested the left-hander may still return to England later in the series. But the decision flows on from Warner’s suspension for punching the England opener Joe Root, something described as “a despicable thing” by the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.”David has trained hard and been very supportive of the team and his team-mates during the past few weeks, but his preparation for the first Test was not ideal,” Inverarity said. “He is in need of match practice and runs in the longer format and the Australia A games in Zimbabwe and South Africa will provide him with the best possible opportunity.”David remains a member of the Ashes Squad and will return to the England at an appropriate time once we’re happy he has had adequate preparation in match conditions.”Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann described Warner’s situation as a “hard luck story”. “While he has done everything right with training and preparation, his nets have been spectacular, he’s done everything right around the group since his suspension, we can’t pick him without any form in four-day cricket,” he said. “That makes it a hard and a disappointing one for him. He took it hard but understood the reasons behind it when Rod Marsh spoke to him.”We’re confident he’ll come back really well but for now, because he didn’t get the games under his belt, we just feel like it’s the best six [batsmen]. We want an in-form David Warner playing. Now the challenge is for him to keep working hard and get ready for the tour game, to play the right brand of cricket and get back in the Australian team. And the challenge for the top six is to perform well enough to keep him out.”The inclusion of Steve Smith and Ashton Agar in the team for Trent Bridge has also caused other changes to the Australia A squad. Aaron Finch has been promoted to captain the team, and Alex Doolan will be his deputy. Doolan, who has been playing in England, underwent fitness training at Trent Bridge on match eve by way of South Africa preparation.

Ireland will host Bangladesh for three Twenty20 internationals in July, Cricket Ireland has confirmed

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-2012Ireland will host Bangladesh for three Twenty20 internationals in July, Cricket Ireland has confirmed. The teams had initially planned on playing an ODI series in Ireland but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested a Twenty20 series instead, in order to prepare for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka later in the year. The nine-day tour of Ireland will also include a practice game.”It’s great news that we’re taking on Bangladesh and the games will give us valuable preparation as we build towards the World Cup in Sri Lanka,” Ireland coach Phil Simmons said. “We played an exciting brand of cricket in winning the recent qualifying tournament in Dubai and we’re now eighth in the world rankings in this format of the game.””We are delighted to be able to bring more top quality cricket to Ireland. Hosting matches against the Full-Member countries is exactly what we are striving for and this summer proves we are on the right track with matches against Australia, South Africa A, Afghanistan and now Bangladesh,” Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland’s CEO, said. “I would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the ICC High Performance Programme and to ICC Europe for their financial support in helping make these matches come to fruition.”In addition, this is the first time ever we are playing T20I matches at home against a Test nation, and we fully intend to play the games at a time and a price to suit the post-work and weekend crowd.”The teams have faced each other just once in a T20I, at Trent Bridge in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20. All three matches this series will be held in Stormont, on July 18, 20 and 21. The warm-up game against an Ireland XI will be held on July 16.Ireland, in April, had submitted a proposal to the ICC, seeking to play 12 to 15 ODIs a year to recognise their rising standards.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka’s captain and Man of the Match in the second Test at Lord’s, fears he will not be fit to play in the series decider at the Rose Bowl on June 16

Andrew Miller at Lord's07-Jun-2011Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka’s captain and Man of the Match in the second Test at Lord’s, fears he will not be fit to play in the series decider at the Rose Bowl on June 16, after being advised to rest for three to four weeks following a hairline fracture to his right thumb.Dilshan’s first-innings 193 was the outstanding performance of a match that petered out into a stalemate on the final day, with England’s declaration target of 343 providing no incentive to take risks on an unresponsive wicket. Although he was padded up and ready to bat if needed, Dilshan stepped down from his opener’s role, and remained unused as Sri Lanka closed on 127 for 3.”At the moment I am out for the third Test,” said Dilshan at the close of play. “The physio and doctors have advised that it will take three to four weeks to heal. I have ten days [before the third Test] so if it’s a quick recovery, it might be that I can play, or else I’ll give a youngster a chance and be ready for the one-dayers.”That youngster is likely to be the 21-year-old left-hander, Lahiru Thirimanne, who played in three ODIs in 2009-10, but has yet to make his Test debut. He is now certain to play in Sri Lanka’s three-day warm-up against Essex later this week, with the prospect of higher honours to follow. “He is batting really well in the nets and ready to play international cricket,” said Dilshan. “I think if I can’t play, I can give him a chance to open the batting.”Despite the injury, Dilshan’s team-mate Mahela Jayawardene backed his captain to play through the pain. “If he’s ruled out, that is something we’ll need to cope with,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “But knowing him I reckon he’ll be okay to play the Test match.”After all, the way he batted on after two really painful blows shows what determination he has got, and though he didn’t field yesterday or bat today, that’s simply because we didn’t want to take any risks with him,” he added. “We wanted to give him three extra days to settle that sore thumb and see how it comes up.”He’ll now have five or six more days to rest and if he’s feeling well enough to hold a bat, I know he’ll want to play that Test match. If he’s not there, it’s going to be a big blow, but fingers crossed for him. Like we’ve always done when things get tough, we’ll back the guys to stand up just like they did in this match.”In Dilshan’s absence, the captaincy would pass to his predecessor, Kumar Sangakkara, who led the side in the field on the final two days of the Lord’s Test. “We have one more chance to level the series so we have to come out strong at the Rose Bowl and try to win and draw the series,” said Dilshan. “All the players have that mindset for playing good cricket at the moment.”Despite the obvious parallels with the situation in Cardiff, when Sri Lanka were left to bat for 51 overs on the final day and were bowled out for 82 in 24.4, Dilshan insisted that no such negative thoughts had crossed the team’s mind when Andrew Strauss’s afternoon declaration left them with 58 overs to negotiate at Lord’s.The draw was set up by another disciplined anchor role from Dilshan’s opening partner, Tharanga Paranavitana, who made 44, while the veteran Mahela Jayawardene also helped soak up the pressure of the situation in a 53-run stand for the second wicket.”We just talked about batting normally, whatever we got, 50 overs or whatever,” said Dilshan. “Just bat those 50 overs and don’t think about the result. They all played really well and I’m happy Mahela spent some time in the middle. The batting group did a great job.”