Follow UsNewly-appointed Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood has called for the batters to intent, but at the same time not be too reckless. Silverwood was sacked as England head coach after the side's humiliating 40- defeat at The Ashes.
Sri Lank take on Bangladesh in a two-Test series, starting May 15, which will mark the beginning of the Silverwood era.
"I have spent the last couple of weeks just digging through stats, looking at how we can improve. One of them is the intent to score. We have to give the batters the confidence to go out there and not fear getting out," Silverwood said in his first press conference since taking over as Sri Lanka head coach.
"That's not to say we have to be reckless; what I'm saying is we have to bring smarts into that as well. But I do want them to be positive, I want them to be brave. If we go with that attitude, the dot-ball rates will come down and the strike-rates will go up, which can only be a good thing."
"It's all about scoring runs and that's what we want the batting line-up to do. I'll try and instill some confidence into the boys so they can go out there and construct their innings and score big runs, certainly in the first innings, and give us something to bowl at. It's not rocket science.
"We want more discipline in the batting, more patience in the batting and some intent to score as well."
Speaking of the bowlers, he has urged them to focus all their energy on their first 12 deliveries as it can create a real impact that puts the batters on the back foot.
"It's about instilling the discipline that we can do good things for long periods of time and not getting bored of doing them," Silverwood explained.
"Hitting your lines and lengths, finding spots on any given pitch, and being able to live there, and then you bring in the skills like wobble seam etc. And all our guys swing it too, which is great, so it's just about bringing all those skills together and being disciplined enough to live in one area, where you can wear the opposition down if need be.
"It'll be a gradual process, but if you sow the seed and let it grow, over a period of time you will find that people can do it."
Sri Lanka recently named their 18-man squad for the Tests against Bangladesh with Oshada Fernando returning to the squad, which contains a couple of 21-year-olds as well.