My attacking batting style will go on - Dilshan

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET: Flamboyant opener Tillekeratne Dilshan, the newly appointed Sri Lanka cricket captain, vowed that he will not curtail his attacking instincts while batting and will be aggressive while captaining in the up-coming tour of England next month.

The 34-year-old Dilshan who has played 66 Test matches and 203 ODIs, took his free day while playing in the IPL and rushed back to Colombo for a press briefing held at the SLC Headquarters.

He said that he never expected to captain Sri Lanka, but half way in his career felt that the job of captaining the side could come his way.

"Captaincy is a big challenge, and I love it and I am prepared to take up the challenges. At the beginning I had no intention of captaining, but only to play as long as possible and win matches. During the last two or three years the manner in which I performed I faintly felt that I am in with a chance of captaining," said Dilshan.

Dilshan expressed his confidence and being lucky to lead the side in England with two past captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena beside him. However, the selectors have not named a vice-captain on the tour and expected the former captain Kumar Sangakkara to perform the role of Dilshan's deputy in case of an injury to the regular skipper. Allrounder Angelo Mathews was tipped to be the deputy, but he is still nursing an injury which he sustained during the recently concluded World Cup Championships in India.

Mathews is expected to join the team after a fitness Test.