Rumesh to continue as head coach for Australian tour

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has asked Rumesh Ratnayake to continue the role of interim head coach for next month’s cricket tour of Australia.

SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said that as SLC was still in the process of finalising a permanent head coach for the national team, Ratnayake would continue as coach for the five-match T20I series in Australia.

The matches will be played from 11-20 February in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

Reacting to the appointment, Ratnayake said: “Australia is a different kettle of fish, they are the world champions. We shouldn’t forget that. It’s the challenge we are going into. We want to go there and win the series. That would be our main idea.

“We are taking on the world champs and what are the chances you have to take that opportunity. Not very many will have that opportunity and I take it as a privilege.” Australia beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the final of the T20 World Cup played in Dubai last November.

Looking at the challenges that lay ahead of them in Australia, Ratnayake said: “What is our strength, we have to play to our strengths. We did not bowl to our strengths in the first two games against Zimbabwe. That was disappointing, but the heartening thing was we have it in us to bring it out at the time when we want to.

“T20 cricket is more accurate, more spot on, if you miss by a few inches, you are in danger of getting hit. Similarly, you’ve got to have the skills to hit the ball hard into many corners of the grounds rather than one dimensional. Good T20 players hit almost 360 degrees, but not necessarily 360, if you have about 300 you are good enough.” (ST)