Mathews believes Thirimanne’s stock will continue to increase throughout his career

Sri Lanka Twenty20 and Test captain Angelo Mathews believes batsman Lahiru Thirimanne will be the future of Sri Lankan cricket after his outstanding century against Australia during the second ODI in Adelaide.

Thirimanne also scored a brilliant 91 in the first innings of the final Test in Sydney and Mathews stated that his unbelievable performances in both the longer and shorter formats was an asset that Sri Lanka would need in the near future and highlighted the 23-year-old’s potential.

Prior to his 91, Thirimanne had struggled in his previous seven Tests, averaging just 20, and also failed to permanently cement his spot on the ODI roster, with an average of 26 in 32 matches.

Despite his previous records, Mathews noted that the left-handed batsman was on his way to following in the footsteps of accomplished veterans like Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

Mathews also mentioned that Thirimanne has been faced with the challenge of coming in at different times on the batting order, but noted that he has always responded positively and in good spirits as well.

Another trait of Thirimanne’s that has impressed Mathews is his ability to stay calm and keep the scoreboard ticking during pressure situations.