The current Sri Lankan head coach, Mickey Arthur’s contract is ending at the end of the year (2021) and as per reliable sources, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is not willing to extend his contract.
As per the British newspaper, Daily Mail, Derbyshire has approached Arthur to take over the county team and if SLC does not retain him, the 53-year old is likely to make the move to England from the next season.
The Sri Lankan job is Arthur’s fourth international role across a 16-year international coaching career, a span now longer than his time as a professional player. He previously coached South Africa, Australia and Pakistan.
Read – Mickey Arthur appointed Sri Lanka Cricket Head Coach
Arthur, who joined Sri Lanka Cricket in December 2019 on a two-year contract had a tough time guiding the inexperienced Sri Lankan outfit in all formats. Since taking over, Arthur overlooked Sri Lanka in 24 T20Is (not including the team’s final game at the T20 World Cup against the West Indies), including only 7 wins. In 18 ODIs, Sri Lanka won 7 games, while losing 10. In the longest format, Sri Lanka registered only 2 wins, against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, while losing games in Pakistan, South Africa, and against England at home.
With Covid-19 hampering most international fixtures in 2020 and 2021, Arthur’s philosophy was to build a young team for the future and to give them the freedom to get better. During the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, the Sri Lankan team had to go through a high-pressure Round 1 to qualify for the Super 12 stage. Despite being knocked out of the semi-finals race, Arthur was pleased with Sri Lanka’s progress in the tournament.
“I can’t be more proud of this group because we’ve pushed England. We’ve pushed all the bigger nations. For me to see how far we’ve come as a group, when I watch Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, you can name eight or nine players, when I watch them perform, I get immensely proud because I know how much they’ve put into it. And for me as a coach, to guide these players, to perform on what has been the biggest stage has been a real honour. I sit back and I look at what these guys are going to offer Sri Lankan cricket in the future. And I know that we are in very very good hands. And I’m really excited about what their future has in store for Sri Lankan cricket.” Arthur said.
Along with Arthur, the contracts of Grant Flower (Batting Coach) and Shane McDermott, (Fielding Coach) are likely not to be extended.
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