Sri Lanka appoint Steve Rixon as fielding coach until 2019 WC

Steve Rixon has been appointed as Sri Lanka’s fielding coach until the end of the 2019 World Cup, a release stated on Saturday (December 7). He will be replacing Manoj Abeywickrema, who filled in after Nic Pothas stepped down from the role of a fielding consultant in April this year. Rixon, who has played 13 Tests and 6 ODIs for Australia and also served as their assistant coach, will join the team in New Zealand on December 24.

“We are happy to welcome Steve into the team. I am sure he will be able to help the team moving forward, with his expertise in the area of fielding; which is a vital component of the game” said Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket. Rixon had stepped down as Pakistan’s fielding coach in June after two years in his role, citing differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board over late payment and lack of professionalism. He was also offered Sri Lanka’s head coach role in 2013, but had rejected the offer on grounds that the remuneration was “embarrassing” for an international coach. Incumbent fielding coach Abeywickrema, meanwhile, will be drafted into the High Performance Center by Sri Lanka Cricket to work with the Development Squads. “Mind you, I think if we did that at the moment we’d be the worst blokes in the world, but it’s a fine line isn’t it? That’s the truth of it.

“But I love seeing the passion, I mean that’s great passion but, as I said, there’s a fine line isn’t there?”

In an interview to be broadcast later on Saturday on Fox Sports, Kohli says he had sympathy with Steven Smith and David Warner with what they had to go through after the balltampering.

-ESPN CricInfo