His batting partner for so long in this second Test against Australia, Dinesh Chandimal, wears the short-sleeved shirt, square cut like his favourite shot, revealing the chunky forearms germane to modern cricket. Later, Dilruwan Perera's luminous orange bat handle will be visible from the back tier.
Dhananjaya de Silva has none of that. When he walks to the middle of the Sinhalese Sports Club on the morning of the second day, he could be strolling through sepia.
It's a classic look: long sleeves buttoned down to the wrist, collar to the throat. It is August 14, the date Don Bradman strolled out for his final innings in London. Helmet aside, de Silva would not look out of place going through the gate with him.
The current-day player is returning to the crease not out on 116. He has batted through the previous day from the depths of 5 for 26 in the first session, starting his innings from number seven barely an hour into the match. He has been unruffled throughout.
Now he resumes as a newly minted century-maker in Test cricket, his first ton in his third match and all the attendant excitement that brings. Who knows what distraction may follow? A confused prod, an arrogant swat, a keenness to get off strike and get his going?
He is facing Mitchell Starc, Australia's stud bowler, fresh from a night's rest, fresh from 11 wickets in Galle, fresh from a spell of 3 for 8 to begin the previous day. Left arm, fast, with a ball just ten overs old.
Swoosh, it goes outside his off stump, and de Silva ignores it. The next, at his wicket, gets the full face of the bat in defence. The Starc yorker, that has exploded so many stumps, is defused. Wide again, and left. Closer, but discipline holds. Straight, struck square, along the ground to the field.
That first over gone, and there is de Silva at the safe end. He is leaning on his bat. He is slender, almost willowy. Barely there. The sense he gives is one of composure, patience, an old-style cricketer in the modern world
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