Chandika key to Sri Lanka’s changed mindset: Rumesh
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake has credited head coach Chandika Hathurusingha with bringing about a positive mindset in the team since taking charge in December. Ratnayake, a former Sri Lanka fast bowler, was speaking at a press conference, ahead of Saturday’s game against Bangladesh. Cricket Sri Lanka got Hathurasingha to resign as Bangladesh coach in a desperate bid to arrest the team’s slide, and the players have responded.
“Talent was aplenty in our team,” said Ratnayake. “I think Hathurusingha has changed their mindset by letting the boys do things on their own. Even if you fail, he will say ‘well, that was good enough, let’s try again next time’. He will tell a player to go and play some shots, but if he gets out you can’t ask him ‘why did you play that shot?’ So, he’s a man of his word. And we have given the players that confidence,” Ratnayake said.
Sri Lanka endured a disastrous 2017 across all formats, losing seven out of 12 T20s, 23 out of 29 ODIs and seven out of 13 Tests. Following yet another thrashing in the series in India in December 2017, Sri Lanka appointed Hathurusingha as coach and the team saw a revival, winning the tri-series in Bangladesh and securing wins in the Test and T20 series as well.
Against India, Sri Lanka conceded 174 runs but won by five wickets thanks to Kusal Perera’s 66 off 37 balls. It broke their sevengame losing streak against India. Ahead of the clash against Bangladesh, Ratnayake said bowling was an area of focus for the team.