Chandika key to Sri Lanka’s changed mindset: Rumesh
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake has credited head coach Chandika Hathurusingha for making the team’s mindset more positive since taking charge. Speaking at the pre-match press conference before the game against Bangladesh on Saturday, Ratnayake said Hathurusingha’s role has been immense.
“Talent was aplenty in our team. I think coach Hathurusingha has changed their mindset by letting the boys do the 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 had endured a disastrous 2017 across all formats, losing seven out of 12 Twenty20 Internationals, 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 the coach and the team experienced a revival, winning the triseries against Bangladesh and securing wins in the Test and Twenty20 series.
In the opening game against India, Sri Lanka conceded 174 runs but managed to secure a five-wicket win thanks to Kusal Perera’s 66 off 37 balls and broke their seven-game losing streak. Ahead of the clash against Bangladesh, Ratnayake said the bowling was an area of focus for the team.