Interim coach Marvan Atapattu says that he would prefer results on the field to do his bidding as he prepares to convince his employers on being given a long-term contract as Sri Lanka Head Coach.
In an interview Atapattu – an ex-Sri Lanka captain said that he had always stated what his intentions were when asked to take charge of the national team as its interim coach ahead of the recently concluded series in England.
He said that beyond that it was up to the decision-makers to take a call on it and he would abide by whatever decision SLC took when appointing a full-time coach.
“I have said always what my intentions are in the coaching set-up,” he said. “I guess I need not reiterate it and I like to see the results on the field doing the business and beyond that it is up to them (SLC) to take a call on it.”
The former Sri Lanka opener was appointed as interim coach of Sri Lanka after the abrupt exit of former coach Paul Farbrace last April, before presiding over its first-ever (1-0) Test series victory over England last week.
Atapattu previously had coaching stints with Canada and Singapore, before he was drafted in as Sri Lanka’s batting coach back in 2009 to fill the void created by the exit of former shadow coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. In 2013, the former Sri Lanka captain was promoted as assistant coach, a post occupied by foreigners till that stage.
It was with the exit of Graham Ford, that SLC lured former Sri Lanka assistant coach Paul Farbrace to become its head coach before the latter’s unceremonious exit prompted SLC to turn to Atapattu as its new interim coach ahead of the now successful England tour.
Airing his views on his charges performances in England he said that there is no reason why Sri Lanka cannot sustain its remarkable form in future Test series overseas having clinched a 1-0 historic Test series triumph over England last week. “I think sky is the limit for our boys if they put their minds to it.”
The Sri Lanka coach noted that he was not surprised that both Tests (Lord’s and Leeds) had gone down to the wire and that had been possible due to sparkling performances from star players of both England and Sri Lanka. He added that Sri Lanka at no stage had underestimated the opposition in the Test series and that had also been part of the reason why both games had ended in tense finishes.
“We (SL) have been on an upward curve since that drawn Test series against Pakistan in UAE early this year. And I knew that the team was slowly but surely building up for something big and so it proved in England. Now the onus is on the boys to give continuity to it.”
Atapattu also agreed that skipper Angelo Mathews had displayed his potential in the series with his twin tons in the series, but urged the skipper to improve his fitness and indulge in more bowling spells if he is to be classed as a true Test all-rounder.
