Sri Lanka in total disarray

Wellington – Sri Lanka will hope to put poor form and off-field chaos behind them when they face New Zealand in the first Test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve starting today.

The tourists’ preparations have been anything but smooth, with changes to their coaching staff increasing pressure on a team coming off a 3-0 whitewash against England last month.

Former England player Jonathan Lewis was named as the side’s new batting coach this week, joining Australia’s Steve Rixon, who was brought in as fielding coach last week.

Sri Lanka’s bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa was suspended by the International Cricket Council in October after he was accused of match-fixing and other “corrupt conduct”.

That same month, former chief selector and former captain Sanath Jayasuriya was charged for failing to cooperate with a match-fixing probe.

Adding to their woes, off-spinner Akila Dananjaya was suspended this month for having an illegal bowling action, and the national team’s selection panel was sacked over the England series loss.

Opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne (above) admitted it was difficult to block out the upheaval and focus on the upcoming two-Test series.

“It’s not easy, swapping management ... but we’re going to the same basics and everything,” he told Wellington’s Dominion Post.

“It’s not a matter for us. We’re trying to regroup as a team, do our best, and trying to win.”

The Sri Lankans, ranked sixth in the world, also have a poor Test record against the Black Caps in New Zealand, winning only two of 17 matches. – AFP