Tillekeratne Dilshan

Opening batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan, who scored his fifth Test hundred this year, believes a combination of factors, including setting personal goals has helped him to turn his inconsistent career into a successful one.

Ever since making his debut in 1999, the 32-year-old has been in and out of the side as he struggled to be consistent. At times, although he was not getting big scores, the selectors persevered with him due to his excellent fielding skills and the ability to bowl off-spin in One-Day games.

Dilshan requested to open the innings in ODIs and T-20 Internationals early this year and it has paid off, as he has produced match winning performances consistently.

He won the Player of the Tournament award in the ICC T-20 Championship in England and was named Sri Lankan Cricketer of the Year at the inaugural CEAT-SLC Cricket Awards.

"There are various factors that have worked for me. At the start of the year, I wanted to complete 1000 runs in both forms of the game in the calendar year. These goals have helped me to turn things around. I will set fresh targets again for next year and will see how it goes," Dilshan said, speaking to journalists, yesterday.

"When I asked Mahela to let me open, he encouraged me and asked me to first try it in domestic cricket. In the very first game I got 188 runs. I thought that’s the most sensible cricketing decision I have made. Had I batted at number six, I don’t think I could have even scored something like 500 runs in the whole year," he added.

His personal decision has helped the team as well in more ways than one. With him opening, the team now can balance the side and play an all-rounder in Tests at number six. Sri Lanka have brought in Angelo Mathews to that slot and in a very short time period he has been impressive. "My decision to open has helped us to play the extra bowler. Had I played at six, we would have played four bowlers, a strategy that India has been forced to follow this series."

"At school, I used to open the innings and even at club level I used to open. But when I came into the national team first, there was an established pair in both forms of the game and I was made to bat in the middle order. Although a bit late, I think I have got the place where I can be most effective," Dilshan added.

Dilshan also revealed that on certain occasions, teams have played into his hands by adopting defensive tactics like India did in the last Test. "There’s a bit of risk involved in opening. But I have seen fielding sides going defensive right away when they bowl to me. Instead of setting a field where a batsman can be dismissed, teams want to restrict my shots. Some teams for example, position a deep cover, a deep square leg and earlier on in the innings, that takes the pressure off."