'I wouldn't say I protect the coach. I support him'
Sri Lanka's cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha talks about his role, the team's captaincy and bowling attack, and their drawn-out transition
Interview by Andrew Fidel Fernando
29-Jul-2017
"The cricket manager's role is coordinating with the coaching staff, the players, the selectors, high-performance centre, and SLC. Otherwise there were a lot of gaps in communication" • AFP/Getty Images
Asanka Gurusinha had been overseas since his retirement from international cricket in 1996, but is now working with Sri Lanka Cricket in the newly formed "cricket manager" position. The exact nature of his position, created in February this year, is under some scrutiny following Graham Ford's resignation as Sri Lanka coach. In this interview, Gurusinha speaks about the disagreements that led to Ford's exit, details his responsibilities as cricket manager, and outlines his vision for the team.
You were out of the scene for a long time. What tempted you back?
What tempted me back was when my very good friend Aravinda de Silva and SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala spoke to me to come and do this role. I just thought it's a young side which has got a few experienced players, but really not the kind of experience that a good team will have. I thought this is the best time for me to go and work with these guys and see how I can take them to the next level. When you have Sanga, Mahela, I don't think you need anybody like that. They run the training and are very strong leaders. I was asked a few years ago, about four or five times, but all those times I said no. But I thought that this is a good time for me. My children are also older, so my wife and I can decide to go and do something for two or three years.
What tempted me back was when my very good friend Aravinda de Silva and SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala spoke to me to come and do this role. I just thought it's a young side which has got a few experienced players, but really not the kind of experience that a good team will have. I thought this is the best time for me to go and work with these guys and see how I can take them to the next level. When you have Sanga, Mahela, I don't think you need anybody like that. They run the training and are very strong leaders. I was asked a few years ago, about four or five times, but all those times I said no. But I thought that this is a good time for me. My children are also older, so my wife and I can decide to go and do something for two or three years.
What was the brief?
They explained the role exactly - what it is now. It was for cricket manager - that was the initial part. And they said most probably after two or three months they will look at making me a selector.
They explained the role exactly - what it is now. It was for cricket manager - that was the initial part. And they said most probably after two or three months they will look at making me a selector.
The cricket manager's role is coordinating with the coaching staff, the players, the selectors, high-performance centre, and SLC. Otherwise there were a lot of gaps in communication.
At the same time they wanted me to seriously look at helping create a winning culture. And it even involves looking at the coaching structure - whether we have the right people.
Why is the role necessary?
It's a young team, and yes, they won 3-0 against Australia, but consistency was an issue. This cricket manager role, they could have called it "team director", like [in India with] Ravi Shastri earlier. It is a new role. When we were playing there was no director of cricket or anyone. Now most places have directors. If you look at football, the team manager is there and there are skill coaches underneath. I feel that's a structure that cricket one day will go into.
It's a young team, and yes, they won 3-0 against Australia, but consistency was an issue. This cricket manager role, they could have called it "team director", like [in India with] Ravi Shastri earlier. It is a new role. When we were playing there was no director of cricket or anyone. Now most places have directors. If you look at football, the team manager is there and there are skill coaches underneath. I feel that's a structure that cricket one day will go into.
In football, there is also no head coach. Currently the skills coaches would work under the head coach in cricket.
Yes, we have a head coach. We can easily say we don't need a head coach. But I think if you have the right person, it's good to have the head coach. I'm not part of the coaching structure at all. It's very clear lines that Nic Pothas and I have. I never go into that area. I don't get involved in coaching. We have a lot of chats. I think that's the most important thing - communication.
Yes, we have a head coach. We can easily say we don't need a head coach. But I think if you have the right person, it's good to have the head coach. I'm not part of the coaching structure at all. It's very clear lines that Nic Pothas and I have. I never go into that area. I don't get involved in coaching. We have a lot of chats. I think that's the most important thing - communication.
I'm trying to understand the hierarchy. If there is some issue with strategy or team direction where you differ with the head coach, what happens?
The head coach reports to me, yes. But the strategy is done by the head coach, captain and the team. I will give guidelines. If SLC's goal is to have a winning team by 2019, then I will give that goal to the coach, who will then create the strategy. It's like any company, where you have a company objective and then you work on it.
The head coach reports to me, yes. But the strategy is done by the head coach, captain and the team. I will give guidelines. If SLC's goal is to have a winning team by 2019, then I will give that goal to the coach, who will then create the strategy. It's like any company, where you have a company objective and then you work on it.
If you're not involved in day-to-day coaching, is it a role where your constant presence is required in the team?
I'm not involved in day-to-day coaching, but with the team, I do work very closely if there are issues. On tour, I'm the team manager as well. If there is no tour, my role is as cricket manager, where I will work with high performance and look at players whom we can bring into the national team. I can tell the coach: "We need to look at so-and-so." Or we might go to high performance and tell them we are looking for allrounders. That's the difference. On tour, it's pretty much team manager and selector.
I'm not involved in day-to-day coaching, but with the team, I do work very closely if there are issues. On tour, I'm the team manager as well. If there is no tour, my role is as cricket manager, where I will work with high performance and look at players whom we can bring into the national team. I can tell the coach: "We need to look at so-and-so." Or we might go to high performance and tell them we are looking for allrounders. That's the difference. On tour, it's pretty much team manager and selector.
And my cricket manager role is after hours, when I sit down and work out what we need. I'm now looking at the Pakistan tour, India tour and Bangladesh tour. I'll get our analyst to get all the data to Nic. He can't go through all the data for upcoming teams every day. We need to be able to say: these are the bowlers we are playing, or batsmen we will come across. Then we can talk to the selectors and work out who are the players who are ideal for these conditions. Then we can talk to the high-performance manager and say: "Do we have this? What are the training schedules?" Nic Pothas plays a large role in all of that.
What happened with Graham Ford?
Graham, from the start, probably didn't agree with my role. He thought I was interfering. I thought I wasn't. We did discuss it a lot. I am not sure what he discussed with the SLC president or anything like that. My role was always as a team manager and I will give certain ideas. I am the chairman of selectors on tour. At the end of the day, I do make the decision on the team - on the final XI. But in my five months, I've never gone against the captain's decision. With the head coach, I wouldn't say I always agree with everything, but I look at the fact that the captain goes to the middle with the team, not me. I have always given the team that the captain wanted. During the Champions Trophy, the final XI, even on things that I didn't agree with, I always went with Angelo Mathews' final decision. He has to go to the middle.
Graham, from the start, probably didn't agree with my role. He thought I was interfering. I thought I wasn't. We did discuss it a lot. I am not sure what he discussed with the SLC president or anything like that. My role was always as a team manager and I will give certain ideas. I am the chairman of selectors on tour. At the end of the day, I do make the decision on the team - on the final XI. But in my five months, I've never gone against the captain's decision. With the head coach, I wouldn't say I always agree with everything, but I look at the fact that the captain goes to the middle with the team, not me. I have always given the team that the captain wanted. During the Champions Trophy, the final XI, even on things that I didn't agree with, I always went with Angelo Mathews' final decision. He has to go to the middle.
There were reports that Ford was being excluded from team meetings. What is your response to that?
No, we didn't have a single meeting without Graham Ford, if it was cricket-related. If it was administration- or security-related, we won't get Ford into those meetings. But anything with cricket or cricket selection, Graham was always there - even though he is not a selector in SLC's selection policy. We always had the vice-captain there as well. It was a team that discussed everything, and I never excluded Graham.
No, we didn't have a single meeting without Graham Ford, if it was cricket-related. If it was administration- or security-related, we won't get Ford into those meetings. But anything with cricket or cricket selection, Graham was always there - even though he is not a selector in SLC's selection policy. We always had the vice-captain there as well. It was a team that discussed everything, and I never excluded Graham.
Over several administrations there have been reports of administrators intruding into team matters. What has you experience been, and how do you handle those situations?
I think it comes down to the manager or whoever it is. It's important that you're clear with them and say: "This is not part of your position. This is part of mine. Let me do it and trust me." I do respect SLC's policies and all of that - absolutely. But when it comes to decision-making, I always do everything within my powers. I also have good relationships with SLC officials. And they do respect me for who I am.
I think it comes down to the manager or whoever it is. It's important that you're clear with them and say: "This is not part of your position. This is part of mine. Let me do it and trust me." I do respect SLC's policies and all of that - absolutely. But when it comes to decision-making, I always do everything within my powers. I also have good relationships with SLC officials. And they do respect me for who I am.
The team's transition has been going on for a lot longer than is ideal. Are you of the view that the weak domestic structure, which successive administrations have failed to reform, has created these complications?
We have a strong provincial tournament now. I understand that the club tournament is not that strong. When I was playing, it was a lot stronger because there were less teams.
We have a strong provincial tournament now. I understand that the club tournament is not that strong. When I was playing, it was a lot stronger because there were less teams.
The way I look at it is: "This is what we have." I'm not in the cricket board's administration of elected members. I have a job to do. I try to think about: "How do I do better with this?" I think about our skill levels, having the right personnel, and creating the right culture.
If you take Pakistan, they won the Champions Trophy, but their domestic cricket is not high-quality, if you look at it. That comes down to the players' hunger. I look at that part. These days players can do well financially if they perform well. It comes down to their responsibility as well. If they want to do well and get an IPL contract, they have to be performing at a top level without blaming anything.
I can't fix anything in domestic cricket from where I'm sitting. I can only advise them. But I'm more into the provincial system.
Have you made any recommendations on that front?
Not yet. To me, it's way too early. I'm just coming up to five months. The other thing is, there's so much cricket happening, how many players are going to play club cricket these days? There's not many in the international team who would play. We need to give them a break as well, to recover. It's a bit of a problem right now.
Not yet. To me, it's way too early. I'm just coming up to five months. The other thing is, there's so much cricket happening, how many players are going to play club cricket these days? There's not many in the international team who would play. We need to give them a break as well, to recover. It's a bit of a problem right now.
Moving to selection - there have been quite a few changes to the team over the last two years. Do you think that has been to the detriment of player development?
Personally, I feel yes. But it's difficult for me to say what their thinking behind it was. There were very valid reasons. I heard there were a lot of injuries as well. If you look at it, we are working with a very stable squad. You can see that in the players' confidence. They are a very close unit. That's what I'm trying to build. That will create the willingness to work hard and win. Against India, I think we will stick to this 15-16 man squad for the Test series. We're not going to go out of that unless something drastic happens with injuries.
Personally, I feel yes. But it's difficult for me to say what their thinking behind it was. There were very valid reasons. I heard there were a lot of injuries as well. If you look at it, we are working with a very stable squad. You can see that in the players' confidence. They are a very close unit. That's what I'm trying to build. That will create the willingness to work hard and win. Against India, I think we will stick to this 15-16 man squad for the Test series. We're not going to go out of that unless something drastic happens with injuries.
You have coached in Australia as well. What is it that allows a side like Australia to transition much more smoothly than Sri Lanka have done?
I'll be honest - it's their cricket structure that's helping them. It's an unbelievably solid structure. It's the foundations they put in place a long time ago with Rod Marsh. Starting that cricket academy - at Adelaide initially - was their foundation. They start very young, from the age of about 13, and they even work on their fitness levels, skill levels, and all of that. That's all monitored by Cricket Australia through technology. They pick the good cricketers in certain age groups and have certain coaching camps. And the players are held accountable even out of camps.
I'll be honest - it's their cricket structure that's helping them. It's an unbelievably solid structure. It's the foundations they put in place a long time ago with Rod Marsh. Starting that cricket academy - at Adelaide initially - was their foundation. They start very young, from the age of about 13, and they even work on their fitness levels, skill levels, and all of that. That's all monitored by Cricket Australia through technology. They pick the good cricketers in certain age groups and have certain coaching camps. And the players are held accountable even out of camps.
Even when I was playing, what was lacking for us was [people] doing things on their own. The Aussie players are so good at that. You don't have to go after them like a schoolteacher. That's what we have to start doing. But their structure at different levels is where they have replacements coming through. They struggled when some of the big names went, and they went down in the rankings. But they came up pretty quick because of their structure.
India is also in a better position now because of IPL. But I think all the other [teams] will struggle when their big guns go. That's why I kept saying when I came in: fitness and fielding standards are non-negotiable, even at Under-15 level. When we pick players, they need to be ready. They should understand the national team's intensity. It's getting there now. I can see the A team's and Under-19 team's increased intensity.
What do you mean by fitness and fielding being non-negotiable?
We will set certain standards, and if you don't meet them, you will not be selected. We can't do it straight away because we've got to first educate the players. We're pretty strict with the national squad - with fitness and all of that. We will talk to them if they keep going backwards. In the most recent tests we did, every player has improved since the last testing. That's something I was impressed with. The players are taking it seriously, but we need to drive it at a younger age.
We will set certain standards, and if you don't meet them, you will not be selected. We can't do it straight away because we've got to first educate the players. We're pretty strict with the national squad - with fitness and all of that. We will talk to them if they keep going backwards. In the most recent tests we did, every player has improved since the last testing. That's something I was impressed with. The players are taking it seriously, but we need to drive it at a younger age.
I think it's fair to say Sri Lanka have been over-reliant on Rangana Herath over the last few years. What plans do you need to put in place so you have someone to take up his mantle?
We have a few spinners who we have identified and are working with, but it's going to be a tough ask to replace Rangana. If he decides to retire by the end of this year, we don't have a ready replacement, and that's the honest truth. It's like trying to replace Sanga or Mahela. You can't do it overnight.
We have a few spinners who we have identified and are working with, but it's going to be a tough ask to replace Rangana. If he decides to retire by the end of this year, we don't have a ready replacement, and that's the honest truth. It's like trying to replace Sanga or Mahela. You can't do it overnight.
The guy in the squad - Malinda Pushpakumara - we have looked at him, and I think he is mature. He understands what he needs to do under pressure. At the same time, we have a few young players that we have identified and we are working with them in our high-performance academy, but the key is to give them more consistent opportunities. I am hoping we get more A team cricket happening. There's a tour to the West Indies coming up, and I'm really looking forward to picking some players that we feel will be beneficial in the next few months for Sri Lanka.
Lakshan Sandakan has had some success in the Test format. What prompted the decision to drop him from the squad for India?
Look, he will be an asset for us in the future. He's a young cricketer. We have advised him to start bowling a consistent line and length, so that it will benefit him and he will play more matches. If he is not in the national team for the Pakistan tour, he will definitely go to West Indies with the A team and get that experience. Bowling chinaman is a very difficult art - it especially puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders; not like a normal offspinner. He's not that strong a guy on his shoulders. That's another area we are working with the physio on building, so that he can keep consistently bowling that line and length. When you go to a game, the captain needs to be able to throw you the ball and say: "Go for it." He's got good technique, and is great in some areas. I think we have to look after him as well. If he loses his confidence, he will be lost to Sri Lanka cricket.
Look, he will be an asset for us in the future. He's a young cricketer. We have advised him to start bowling a consistent line and length, so that it will benefit him and he will play more matches. If he is not in the national team for the Pakistan tour, he will definitely go to West Indies with the A team and get that experience. Bowling chinaman is a very difficult art - it especially puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders; not like a normal offspinner. He's not that strong a guy on his shoulders. That's another area we are working with the physio on building, so that he can keep consistently bowling that line and length. When you go to a game, the captain needs to be able to throw you the ball and say: "Go for it." He's got good technique, and is great in some areas. I think we have to look after him as well. If he loses his confidence, he will be lost to Sri Lanka cricket.
In the last couple of years there have been issues with dismissing the second half of an opposition batting order. What is the solution to that?
We are working on that right now with our fast bowlers. When we were playing, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram used to bowl inswinging yorkers to tailenders and that's how they got them out. These days, you don't get tailenders. Everyone can bat in most sides.
We are working on that right now with our fast bowlers. When we were playing, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram used to bowl inswinging yorkers to tailenders and that's how they got them out. These days, you don't get tailenders. Everyone can bat in most sides.
If the ball is reversing, our goal is to start consistently reversing the ball. It's not easy for a tailender to play consistent swinging yorkers. That's one area we are looking at. We are looking at short-pitched bowling as well. These days the tracks are really not helpful. Swing is a fast-bowling area we are working on - Nic Pothas and his team. We're looking at how we can start swinging the ball while bowling around 140kph. It's not easy.
Who are the quicks who you see serving Sri Lanka for a long time?
I'm very impressed with Lahiru Kumara. He's just 20 years old. He's very raw, but he's bowling very closely with the bowling coaches, and he's getting that inswinging yorker going. It's not quite in the right line - in the Zimbabwe series it was a little on leg stump. But give him a couple of months or so and he should be getting it right. He is a guy who can go 140-plus.
I'm very impressed with Lahiru Kumara. He's just 20 years old. He's very raw, but he's bowling very closely with the bowling coaches, and he's getting that inswinging yorker going. It's not quite in the right line - in the Zimbabwe series it was a little on leg stump. But give him a couple of months or so and he should be getting it right. He is a guy who can go 140-plus.
I'm also very impressed with left-armer Vishwa Fernando. He swings it both ways and that's what we need from a new-ball bowler. We have Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep who are in their thirties. We have Dushmantha Chameera, who can bowl 145kph as well. That's another area we are working with him - to get him to swing the ball a little bit more and have a little more control. Even the bowler we brought to Hambantota - Asitha Fernando - is sharp.
We have good fast bowlers, but now it's up to our coaching staff as well to get them to a stage where they start believing in themselves.
Who is going to form the core of the Sri Lanka batting order?
It might be too early, but I believe Kusal Mendis is one batsman who a lot of people are going to be talking about in the next ten years. He's one of the most hard-working guys I've seen at training. He's very committed and always wants to learn. At a very young age, he's got a very good record.
It might be too early, but I believe Kusal Mendis is one batsman who a lot of people are going to be talking about in the next ten years. He's one of the most hard-working guys I've seen at training. He's very committed and always wants to learn. At a very young age, he's got a very good record.
The other guy is Niroshan Dickwella. He's very similar. Most probably he's more aggressive than Kusal, which is a great thing to have as a leader one day. There are other batsmen coming up - Sadeera Samarawickrama, Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka. There's a lot of U-19 guys in the last couple of years who are really doing well. I think if we manage them well and give them the opportunities, in the next two years or so we will have a very good side.
Have you set team goals in terms of what they will achieve in certain time frames?
We've set a goal within SLC about what we want to achieve in the next couple of years or so, but the structure will come from the head coach. The national team head coach will have a bigger say with the A team and the U-19 team as well, because it's very important that if Nic Pothas is our ongoing coach, he needs to have more say in the A team's and U-19 plans, because that's what breeds the players for the national team. We have given goals of what we want to do, but Nic and I have talked about what we want to achieve in the next six months, and on to the 2019 World Cup.
We've set a goal within SLC about what we want to achieve in the next couple of years or so, but the structure will come from the head coach. The national team head coach will have a bigger say with the A team and the U-19 team as well, because it's very important that if Nic Pothas is our ongoing coach, he needs to have more say in the A team's and U-19 plans, because that's what breeds the players for the national team. We have given goals of what we want to do, but Nic and I have talked about what we want to achieve in the next six months, and on to the 2019 World Cup.
You've talked about Nic a lot. Is he the guy you're looking to work with long-term?
To me, he has been in the system for a while. The players respect him. That's one of the most important things for a coach. They trust him. He is a hard-working guy. Yes, he doesn't have the name of a top coach, but what he has done in this short time is really good for Sri Lankan cricket. SLC and myself - we haven't decided who the next coach is. But as the board said as well, Nic is a front-runner in our selection. As he's doing the job currently, it's much easier for him to prove it.
To me, he has been in the system for a while. The players respect him. That's one of the most important things for a coach. They trust him. He is a hard-working guy. Yes, he doesn't have the name of a top coach, but what he has done in this short time is really good for Sri Lankan cricket. SLC and myself - we haven't decided who the next coach is. But as the board said as well, Nic is a front-runner in our selection. As he's doing the job currently, it's much easier for him to prove it.
I'm a bit worried as well to get someone from outside straight away. A coach needs to be given six months to settle down and put his plans into action. The team is at a stage right now that they are actually gelling very well as one unit.
I will advise SLC on what I would like. I don't want to get involved in the final selection, because I can be biased. My advice to the board is to set up a three-member committee from outside - like India did. They need to look at the profile of the person we need as a coach, and then get someone for the job.
What are your personal thoughts about qualities that would be vital for a coach of this team?
With a young side, you need to be a hands-on coach. This is a young side. You need someone who will hold their hand and take them to the next step. In two years' time, when the team is at that top level, you'd then need a coach who will manage their expectations and work on. The good thing is, whoever is the coach in the next two years will also change with the team.
With a young side, you need to be a hands-on coach. This is a young side. You need someone who will hold their hand and take them to the next step. In two years' time, when the team is at that top level, you'd then need a coach who will manage their expectations and work on. The good thing is, whoever is the coach in the next two years will also change with the team.
Sri Lanka has employed a large number of coaches over the last six to seven years. Has that made the selection of the next coach more complicated?
Personally I've got about three enquiries from people. They've asked me what the process is, and said they were interested in putting their hands up. I read a few things, like Jason Gillespie saying he was worried about coming here. Absolutely - if I was on the other side I would be thinking like that. But at the same time there are a lot of coaches who would be interested in taking up a challenge. I don't see it as a major issue.
Personally I've got about three enquiries from people. They've asked me what the process is, and said they were interested in putting their hands up. I read a few things, like Jason Gillespie saying he was worried about coming here. Absolutely - if I was on the other side I would be thinking like that. But at the same time there are a lot of coaches who would be interested in taking up a challenge. I don't see it as a major issue.
A few of the past coaches have had issues with the administration in the past. What role do you play there? Do you try to protect the coach from that?
I think that's the structure that we have created. The coach will report to me, not the SLC CEO or anybody. I wouldn't say I protect, but I support the coach. My position was brought in so that I can stop the issues going to the coach. I deal directly with SLC, and the coach will deal directly with me.
I think that's the structure that we have created. The coach will report to me, not the SLC CEO or anybody. I wouldn't say I protect, but I support the coach. My position was brought in so that I can stop the issues going to the coach. I deal directly with SLC, and the coach will deal directly with me.
You've got two new captains in place. What are your expectations of them?
I want them both to settle down, not just as captains but as players. If you're a captain who's scoring runs, it's actually easier to captain a team and lead from the front. When I say lead from the front I don't mean just in the game. I mean your attitude at training. That's where people can look at a good leader. Even if they have personal issues, a player should be able to walk up to the captain and say: I have this, I need your help. That's the leadership I'm looking for. Both of these guys will have it soon. We haven't put a timeline on their captaincy because I was dead against that. Why would you want to put a one-year timeline? He's the national captain. If his form is affected then absolutely, the selectors will have to discuss it with him. But let him get the team together and work with them.
I want them both to settle down, not just as captains but as players. If you're a captain who's scoring runs, it's actually easier to captain a team and lead from the front. When I say lead from the front I don't mean just in the game. I mean your attitude at training. That's where people can look at a good leader. Even if they have personal issues, a player should be able to walk up to the captain and say: I have this, I need your help. That's the leadership I'm looking for. Both of these guys will have it soon. We haven't put a timeline on their captaincy because I was dead against that. Why would you want to put a one-year timeline? He's the national captain. If his form is affected then absolutely, the selectors will have to discuss it with him. But let him get the team together and work with them.
What did you see in these guys?
We wanted a little bit of experience. Chandi is respected by the young guys as well as the senior guys. Upul [Tharanga] is the same. He's been there for a long time and even played with Sanath [Jayasuriya] and them. He's changed the way he trains a lot. He's very committed and trains hard. That's what I saw from these two guys. We can get two, three or five years even. Chandi is really young, and Upul is 30 or 31. Easily five years we should be able to get from them.
We wanted a little bit of experience. Chandi is respected by the young guys as well as the senior guys. Upul [Tharanga] is the same. He's been there for a long time and even played with Sanath [Jayasuriya] and them. He's changed the way he trains a lot. He's very committed and trains hard. That's what I saw from these two guys. We can get two, three or five years even. Chandi is really young, and Upul is 30 or 31. Easily five years we should be able to get from them.
Has on-field strategy been a shortcoming for Sri Lanka in the last few years?
I think sometimes when you're not performing, that affects a lot. On-field strategies can be one of them. In the last few months, while I've been involved, I'm pretty happy with the strategy. Sometimes we've got to back the captain with some decisions they make in the middle. Even though we as past cricketers or outsiders might ask, "Why the hell is he making that decision?" I sometimes have to step back and appreciate that he is a human being that has to make that decision out in the middle. Yes, I'd like to help them through messages and so on, but I'd like them to make their own decisions and back them.
I think sometimes when you're not performing, that affects a lot. On-field strategies can be one of them. In the last few months, while I've been involved, I'm pretty happy with the strategy. Sometimes we've got to back the captain with some decisions they make in the middle. Even though we as past cricketers or outsiders might ask, "Why the hell is he making that decision?" I sometimes have to step back and appreciate that he is a human being that has to make that decision out in the middle. Yes, I'd like to help them through messages and so on, but I'd like them to make their own decisions and back them.
Fielding has clearly been a big shortcoming. What has contributed to the drop in standards?
I feel that if you don't have enjoyment and you don't have pressure at fielding, training it is very difficult. When you're fielding you have to enjoy it. That's what I can see now. In the Zimbabwe Test I thought we fielded well. We still need to improve a lot, but I'm hoping we'll see that improvement very soon.
I feel that if you don't have enjoyment and you don't have pressure at fielding, training it is very difficult. When you're fielding you have to enjoy it. That's what I can see now. In the Zimbabwe Test I thought we fielded well. We still need to improve a lot, but I'm hoping we'll see that improvement very soon.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando