Niroshan Dickwella had an impressive day in front of the stumps in the first innings of the second Sri Lanka-England Test at Galle, and despite not effecting a dismissal as of lunch on day two, he has proved useful behind them too.
England batsman Jonny Bairstow had looked set on assisting his captain Joe Root on another rescue act, having come to the crease at 4-1, soon 5-2, and helping to ensure England reached stumps on the second day without further loss. However, just as in the first Test, Bairstow was dismissed soon after the resumption, given out caught bat-pad after a Sri Lanka review.
Dickwella, who had made his Test best score of 92 the day before to equal Chetan Chauhan’s world record for the most fifties without a hundred, had embarked on a campaign of topical sledging in the lead-up to the dismissal. He referenced the ongoing debate of England’s novel rotation policy, which will see all their all-format players miss some action this winter.
Bairstow is set to miss the first two Tests of England’s next series against India, and Dickwella wondered if there might be more to the story.
Dickwella to Bairstow: Captain doesn't like him anymore boys. He's not going to India now boys!
Haha. That's quite funny.#SLvENG
— Adam (@Durm_16) January 24, 2021
Even when the batsman switched ends, Dickwella kept up his chat.
I’m tempted to make a ByTheMinute Dickwella account to be honest. Now he’s asking Joe why Bairstow’s been dropped when he’s the best player…
Root responds with the bat, dispatching a rare Embuldeniya drag-down to the midwicket fence. 116/2
— ByTheMin Cricket (@ByTheMinCricket) January 24, 2021
Bairstow was dismissed not long after, and viewers and pundits alike were quick to question whether Dickwella’s sledging had had an impact.
THAT IS OUT – Does that count as a spot of mental disintegration? Bairstow (28) ct Fernando b Embuldeniya sledged Dickwella. Pushes forward and a fine inside edge is held via the pad at gully. Dickwella in Bairstow's ear about not going to India but playing in the IPL 👀 116-3
— Dean Wilson (@deanbwilson) January 24, 2021
Dickwella sledge works against Bairstow. He was saying "Why you are dropped from the India tour, you are the best player after the captain in the team and will play in IPL". In the next over, Embuldeniya gets Bairstow.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 24, 2021
📢📢Dickwella (behind the stumps) at the start of the over📢📢
"You know he's (Bairstow) been dropped for the India tour, come on boys"
Five balls later: Bairstow inside-edges one to slip
England 116/3 #SLvENG #SLvsENG https://t.co/WOR27UuaY0 pic.twitter.com/EzsrGuaYAY
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) January 24, 2021