Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is looking to have a discussion with Caretaker Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya upon his return home with the National Team from their tour of England tonight (11), and request him to continue in his current position encompassing the forthcoming home series against New Zealand, its CEO Ashley de Silva told The Daily Morning Sports.
“He (Jayasuriya) would probably have to do the New Zealand series,” de Silva said, adding: “This is because we would not have sufficient time to rope in a permanent head coach during this short time period before the Tests against New Zealand starts. Therefore, we intend to have talks with Sanath once he returns home and then make this request to him.”
Sri Lanka beat England by eight-wickets with a day to spare in the third and final Test to post only their first Test victory on English soil in a decade, on Monday (9), though they still lost the three-match series 2-1.
WTC cycle
The two-match Test series against the Black Caps – which will be a part of the ICC World Test Championship Cycle of 2023-25 – will be the first between the teams played here since 2019.
The first Test between the hosts and New Zealanders, who are slated to land in Colombo on 15 September, will commence 72 hours later, with the second and final Test starting on 26 September, with both played at the Galle International Stadium.
Asked whether the 54-year-old former legend will be urged to continue as permanent head coach on a fresh contract, the SLC CEO added that it was too early to comment on it, without having had any dialogue with the one-time explosive batter.
“Obviously we have to listen to Sanath’s standpoint on the matter, and without doing so, it would be unfair to comment on it. Also, we need to get hold of a few more professionals into the backroom staff, if Sanath is to be handed the position beyond the Kiwi series. These are issues we need to discuss and finalise. So, let’s see how things pan out on that front.”
Landmark ODI series win
Under Jayasuriya’s watch, Sri Lanka recorded a historic 2-0 ODI series win against India in a three-match series, their first in 27 years early last month, after the first ended in a tie.
Although Sri Lanka lost the recent Test series against England 2-1, many critics have commended the team’s creditable performance against a strong England side.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) appointed Jayasuriya, who was the head of its High Performance Center (HPC), as interim Head Coach in July, following the resignation of ex-England Cap Chris Silverwood, after a dismal T20 World Cup campaign.
Jayasuriya has previously served in various capacities within the SLC, set up as chief selector and team mentor, before being tapped to serve as the HPC honcho.
As per the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), Sri Lanka has a hectic schedule awaiting them, both at home, and overseas in all formats during the next six-month period, with Test tours to South Africa and Bangladesh besides a home series against Test World Champions Australia.
In white-ball cricket, they are scheduled to host West Indies and the Black Caps later this year, after which they will take wing to the land of the long white cloud for a return series in early 2025.