Sri Lanka's Kaushal Silva battled through the pain barrier on day four of the third Test against Australia and despite having six stitches in his hand, he scored what he described as his best Test knock to put his side in a commanding position going into day five.
Despite scoring just 18 runs in the series and without a century in 14 months prior to his ton in the second innings, the 30-year-old's selection for the dead rubber in Colombo was a massive show of faith by the Sri Lankan selectors and Kaushal Silva ensured that they didn't regret their decision.
Speaking about his injury and whether he could bat in the second innings, the diminutive right-hander was quick to admit that the injury might have been a "blessing in disguise".
"Well, after I got injured, I required six stitches and coach asked me whether I could go out to bat," Silva said. "I took the challenge and from that moment I wanted to bat well. It was a blessing in disguise that I got injured. It prevented me from driving.
"The first few innings I got out, I was chasing wide outside the off-stump. I thought let's play the balls that are coming to me and let's focus on that."
On what he had to do on day three to ensure that he was ready to bat if necessary in the second innings, he said: "When I went to the nets just to have a hit, I had had a couple of injections and my fingers and arm was numb. I didn't feel the bat. Since we lost a wicket early, the coach wanted me to go and that gave me the confidence and courage."
With scores of 0, 5, 2, 4 and 7 in the series until the second innings, it is fair to say that Silva wasn't in great form despite a half-century towards the end of the Test series against England. Yet, he had the belief that he would fire and went on to complete his best Test knock for which he thanked the team and selectors for backing him.
On being asked if this was his best Test knock, Silva said "yes".
"It was challenging. It was mainly to prove myself that I can do it. The team was amazing. They supported me and the selectors backed me and told me to not to worry. They all backed me," he said.
"All innings I was getting out for less than 10 and I wanted to score more than 20 and I knew how to build up the innings after getting through the 20 runs."
Kaushal's character deserves a place says Mathews
Before the final Test, Angelo Mathews was quick to point out that the selectors didn't want to change the team massively despite winning the series. In fact, the Sri Lankan captain believes the series win gave them an opportunity to give them more time.
"The selectors and the management think that now we've won, we can give that extra opportunity to do those players who we think will deliver," he said. "Especially Kaushal, when it was tough in England he fought really hard and showed his character.
"After two games, we don't want to throw a character like him away. Everyone tends to have that bad rough patch, but hopefully they can come out and deliver for us."
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