Sri Lankans cry out for a foreigner

Mathews needs expert guidance to mould team during transition phase:

by Allaam Ousman

DUBAI: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) seems to be engulfed in a period of soul-searching following the retirement of legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. Skipper Angelo Mathews may be leading boldly from the front to ensure the transition is smooth but even he needs a guiding influence to steady the ship and chart a new course.

It may be argued that a coach is only as good as the team though they become ideal scapegoats when the going gets tough. But the job of Sri Lanka cricket coach seems to be jinxed ever since Dave Whatmore was dumped soon after he engineered the country's maiden World Cup triumph in 1996.

Marvan Atapattu was the seventh Sri Lanka head coach in the past five years before he resigned following the team's successive home Test series defeats at the hands of Pakistan and India. Jerome Jayaratne, who headed the coaching department of SLC for seven years, has been appointed as interim coach for the upcoming series against West Indies.

Since 2010, Trevor Bayliss, Stuart Law, Rumesh Ratnayake, Geoff Marsh, Graham Ford have also had spells as Sri Lanka coach. Sri Lanka needs a coach who is capable of not only producing results but is committed to develop the team in the long run and not shy away from challenges.

Opinion is divided on whether he should be a home-grown product or a true professional but the majority of cricket fans in Dubai seem to believe a foreign coach is the need of the hour. "It would be an advantage to have a foreign coach because of his experience. A local coach lacks the overall knowledge and experience," said Jeevana de Silva.

"We need a foreign coach with experience because we have a relatively new team which needs to be built up," said Pradeep Balasuriya, who had doubts whether coaches with 'local' exposure could handle the Sri Lanka team.

However, another cricket fan who hails from Nalanda College, begged to differ. "A foreign coach will consider it as a job for a limited contract whereas local coaches will have the country at heart," said Manoj Tharindu. "Foreigners will bring advanced technologies to the table but they will not be able to relate to the talent and potential of local players. Sri Lankans know A to Z about school cricket and club and who is eligible. Foreign coaches will also be hindered by lack of information about the grass roots level," he explained.

However, a former Veluwana MMV cricketer, Luminda Rangana, insisted a foreign coach was needed because they have better experience.

"(Marvan) Atapattu is a technically correct batsman but he did not have coaching experience.

The best example of a good foreign coach is Dave Whatmore. He came with experience and made Sri Lanka world champions by encouraging (Sanath) Jayasuriya and (Romesh) Kaluwitharana to attack at the top of the order," he pointed out.

Asked whether former Sri Lanka opening batsman Chandika Hathurusinghe, presently coaching Bangladesh, is a suitable candidate, Rangana's response was lukewarm.

"Sri Lanka is way above Bangladesh. In that case, Mahela (Jayawardene) and (Kumar) Sangakkara who are the country's leading players are better choices," he quipped.

Another cricket fan based in Dubai, Gayan Dias also put up his hand in favour of a foreign coach with experience.

"We have talented players but we should have faith in new players like Kusal Janith. Even (Kumar) Sangakkara failed at the beginning of his career," he said. "For a coach to be successful, there should not be any interference. That should be the bottom line," he added.