Duleep, Marvan take new roles at SLC

As new Chairman of Selectors and SL batting coach:

By Dinesh WEERAWANSA

Former Sri Lanka captains Duleep Mendis and Marvan Atapattu have been entrusted with new roles at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Mendis has been appointed as the new Chairman of Selectors following the resignation of Aravinda de Silva after Sri Lanka's World Cup final debacle.

Stylish opening batsman Atapattu, who had led Sri Lanka with distinction, has been appointed new batting coach of Sri Lanka team, ahead of former vice captain Roy Dias, who has returned to the island after a long stint as the coach of the Nepal national team. The SLC had finally opted for 40-year-old Atapattu as they had considered his recent experience with the national team.

A veteran of 90 Tests and 268 one day internationals (ODIs), Atapattu is considered one of the most technically sound batsmen ever produced by Sri Lanka. His batting has been a treat to watch and the dependable opening batsman is a sweet timer of ball.

Having made his international debut for Sri Lanka exactly on his 20th birthday, Atapattu has gone great guns with the willow after a disastrous first three Tests. Playing in 90 Tests for Sri Lanka, Atapattu has aggregated 5,502 runs at an average of 39.02, scoring 16 centuries and 17 fifties. In addition, he has aggregated 8,529 runs in ODIs at an average of 37.59 with 11 centuries and 59 fifties. Atapattu is better known for his patient and long innings in Tests, converting six of his 'tons' into double centuries - a feat bettered only by Don Bradman (12), Wally Hammond, Mahela Jayawardene and Brian Lara (seven each).

Meanwhile, 58-year-old Mendis returns as Chairman of Selectors, having held the same position on a couple of occasions before Asantha de Mel and Aravinda de Silva. The former hard-hitting middle order batsman had represented Sri Lanka in 24 Tests with four centuries and eight fifties, including that famous twin hundreds at the one-off Test in Chennai in 1982. A product of S.Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, Mendis has played for Sri Lanka in 79 one day internationals scoring seven half centuries.

The other members of the new SLC Selection Committee headed by Mendis, are Brendon Kuruppu, Ranjith Madurasinghe, Chaminda Mendis, and Don Anurasiri.

Though Aravinda de Silva and his selection committee resigned after selection controversies for the World Cup, their official term was to end on April 30.

Informed SLC sources said that Ruwan Kalpage and Champaka Ramanayake will continue their roles as the specialist fielding and fast bowling coaches of the national team respectively. However, there has also been an initiative to obtain a specialist coach from New Zealand to focus on fielding which has been not up to mark during the recently concluded World Cup.

The SLC, meanwhile, is on the look out for a permanent person to fill the vacancy of the Sri Lanka national coach after Australian Trevor Bayliss ended his contract with the 2011 World Cup. A few names have been short-listed and the final selection is to be made shortly.

Until such time, Stuart Law, who served as Assistant coach under fellow countryman Bayliss, will function as Head Coach for Sri Lanka's forthcoming tour of England.