Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday announced that former Sussex captain and Surrey coach Chris Adams has come on board as consultant for the national cricket team during the upcoming tour of United Kingdom.
Adams was in the running to Sri Lanka’s Head Coach position before SLC settled for Paul Farbrace last year.
“Chris can give us lot of tactical input as to how the wickets will play and more importantly on the opposition players. He has been in the English system for quite a long time and he can offer us lot of things throughout the tour,” Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya, who had recommended Adams along with Head of Cricket Committee Ranjit Fernando told The Island yesterday.
“Chris is passionate about coaching and he is waiting for an opportunity. It’s a good challenge for him also. Guys like Marvan, Ruwan and Chaminda Vaas, who are in our coaching staff will benefit by his presence. Vaasy is a guy who has lot of experience of English conditions having played numerous seasons of county cricket and we can’t forget that too,” Jayasuriya added.
“Chris is going to be bringing in lot of good things for us. We are really keen on getting as much information as possible from him on the opposition,” Jayasuriya further said.
Adams was the captain of English county Sussex as they enjoyed unprecedented success in the County Championship last decade. He will also know England coach Peter Moores’ mindset as Moores was the coach at Sussex when Adams was captain.
Adams also represented England in five Test Matches without much success. After retirement, he moved onto coaching. When he moved to south London to coach Surrey, the county had been relegated, but through hard work he was able to bring the county back to the top division.
However, Adams was sacked last June as Surrey struggled to make an impact.
Meanwhile, SLC’s Executive Committee had been informed by CEO Ashley de Silva yesterday that several international coaches had shown their interest in the Sri Lankan coaching position which will become vacant after South Africa’s tour of the island in July. Former captain Marvan Atapattu has been appointed until South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka.
Among the coaches who have shown an interest are World Cup winning coach Dav Whatmore, former Australia coach Tim Nielsen and former Proteas coaches Ray Jennings and Micky Arthur.
