IND vs SL 1st Test: Nic Pothas Speaks On Niroshan Dickwella's On-Field Antics

The final session of the just-concluded first Test between India and Sri Lanka is enough to show that when it comes to getting everyone excited, nothing can beat Test cricket. After India set Sri Lanka an improbable target of 231 with just over a session remaining, a draw was looking like the likeliest of results.

However, the world number one Test side was not yet ready to throw in the towel as they had the visitors on the mat. In-form Bhuvneshwar Kumar took to quick wickets  while Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav accounted for one each to reduce the Islanders to 22 for 4. Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella then steadied the ship with a 47-run stand before the skipper was sent back by Shami.

With Sri Lanka losing the grip on the game and India strengthening it, things heated up thereafter. Indian players were miffed when Dickwella backed away from facing Shami and things were on the verge of getting out of hands before the umpires intervened. The visitors were also seen engaged in another time wasting tactics, calling the physio  on the ground.

Sri Lanka went on lost two more wickets and were reeling at 75 for 7 before bad light ended their miseries as they walked away with a draw.

Dickwella’s behavior is likely to get criticism but Sri Lanka head coach Nic Pothas sees another side of it. Calling it fantastic, Pothas told journalists after the game: “That’s fantastic, isn’t it? That’s Test match cricket. It’s a tough environment, it’s a cauldron, and that’s how players earn respect from each other. I thought it was played fantastically well. Very tough, high-pressured, very enjoyable and great for the spectators.”

On the other hand, India opener KL Rahul did not criticise the incident and said that India would have done the same in that situation.

“That’s how the game is played. Nobody wants to lose game. These are tricks of the trade and are used by every team. Nothing unfair about it,” he said.

“As a team, you try to win you try to push in as many overs you can but that’s how it’s played. You can’t really complain. Like I said we could have made a match if we got about five-six more overs. It was exciting for us,” he added.

Video of the day: