Sanath Jayasuriya to Continue as Sri Lanka’s Cricket Coach After Successful Interim Period
Sanath Jayasuriya is poised to have his contract as the head coach of the Sri Lanka men’s cricket team extended for another year, following a successful interim period marked by notable victories.
Key Achievements
Since taking over in early July, Jayasuriya has led the team to a series win against India in ODIs, a Test victory at The Oval, and another Test win in Galle against New Zealand.
Contract Negotiations
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had advertised for a permanent head coach following Chris Silverwood’s departure in late June. However, with the significant improvements observed under Jayasuriya’s leadership, the board is now moving towards securing him on a long-term basis. “We are in the final stages of negotiating the contract with him,” said SLC CEO Ashley de Silva. “Probably in the next two or three days you will hear more,” he added.
Jayasuriya’s Journey
Initially appointed as a cricket consultant in December last year, Jayasuriya’s role was primarily focused on working with the High Performance Centre. His involvement with the national team increased when he travelled with them to the T20 World Cup and subsequently took on the interim head coach role.
Player Feedback
Despite a T20I series loss to India and two Test defeats in England, Jayasuriya’s tenure has been marked by more successes than setbacks. Under his guidance, Sri Lanka is now contending for a place in the World Test Championship final. According to ESPNcricinfo, players’ feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with veteran Angelo Mathews describing Jayasuriya’s impact as a “turning point” for the team. “Sanath Jayasuriya was superb as cricket director and now as coach,” Mathews said. “He communicates well and has given us a lot of freedom. We are all working towards one goal, and now everyone is on the same page. He’s also done a superb job grooming the players. He has been amazing. I wish him all the very best,” he added.
Past and Present
Previously serving as chief selector in two separate stints over the past decade, Jayasuriya’s earlier tenures were marked by mixed results. However, his current assignment has brought more stability and progress to the Sri Lankan team.
Doubts Revealed
Sanath Jayasuriya -: Sanath Jayasuriya is a famous cricketer from Sri Lanka. He used to play for the Sri Lankan national team and is now their coach.
Sri Lanka -: Sri Lanka is a small island country in South Asia, located to the south of India. It is known for its beautiful beaches and rich history.
Interim Period -: An interim period is a temporary time when someone takes over a job or role. In this case, Sanath Jayasuriya was temporarily the coach before being given the job permanently.
Series win -: A series win in cricket means winning a set of matches against another team. For example, if Sri Lanka wins more matches than India in a series, they win the series.
Test wins -: Test wins refer to victories in Test cricket, which is a format of the game that lasts up to five days. It is considered the longest and most traditional form of cricket.
The Oval -: The Oval is a famous cricket ground in London, England. Many important cricket matches are played there.
Sri Lanka Cricket -: Sri Lanka Cricket is the organization that manages cricket in Sri Lanka. They are responsible for the national team and other cricket activities in the country.
Angelo Mathews -: Angelo Mathews is a well-known cricketer from Sri Lanka. He has been a key player for the national team and has also served as the team’s captain.