Sri Lanka Cricket is back to their winning ways after clean sweeping West Indies in Tests and ODIs.
Skipper Angelo Mathews hails their new interim coach, Jerome Jayaratne for the success against the team from Caribbean Islands.
“We have worked extremely hard on changing the environment, trying to get rid of individual doubts, trying to give players a lot of confidence, and trying to have the dressing room focused and calm. At this level it is very important to get your mindset right. Jerome speaks to each of us individually. “Mathews shared his views on the impact Jerome made after his appointment.
Mathews was the first to seek permanency for Jayaratne after the ODI series was concluded on Saturday night, “As a coach Jerome’s really gelling with the guys. He’s very lighthearted but he’s very focused with the guys. He’s specialized in batting and he’s working hard with the batters. All in all he’s a very good coach and a human being so we’d like to have him around.“ He said.
The 49-year old Jayaratne was appointed as interim head coach of the Sri Lanka side following Marvan Atapattu’s resignation after the Indian series.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had advertised for the head coach position, but had been rather disappointed by the list of subsequent applicants. This means Jerome Jayaratne will remain in charge for Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand, which begins in December and ends on January 10.
According to reliable sources, there are talks within the board that Jayaratne should continue until the end of the ICC World T20 in March in India.
Sri Lanka T20 captain, Lasith Malinga shared his views on the interim head coach before the two-match series with West Indies starts on Monday (9th November) at Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium. “I have been with the national team for 12 years now, he does his coaching in a new way and stresses heavily on the mental aspects of the game with the players. “
Jayaratne was given the stopgap role for only the West Indies tour but with the Sri Lanka Cricket elections coming up in January, present Vice-president Mr. Kushil Gunasekara recently predicted that they will stick with the former CCC fast-bowler. “I doubt very much that the interim committee will make any decision on the head coach. Now that Jerome has done pretty well, I don’t think we would want to make the call. I think when we leave by the end of this year, the new board will likely take the decision.”
Malinga was confident in asking the authorities to stick with Jayaratne for at least one more year, “I am really happy that a Lankan like Jerome Jayaratne has taken great strides in doing his job effectively. I hope we will be able to retain for at least another year.” He said.
Malinga also mentioned how comfortable it is to work with Jayaratne, “As a player, I would want the coach to be as a friend so that we can discuss anything in a friendly manner, even on an argument even but later can come to a reasonable conclusion. We are glad that we have got a coach like him (Jayaratne), more than me, it is the younger crop who will benefit more from him.” Malinga said at the pre-match press conference in Pallekelle.
