Lankan cricket is in good shape, says Mahela | Daily News

Lankan cricket is in good shape, says Mahela

Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene

“We already have a good cricket structure and we are in good shape to go forward said Sri Lanka Cricket consultant and former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena in an exclusive interview with Daily News yesterday.

we had a good system and our selection and coaching system are well organised. I have given my fullest support to build up Sri Lanka Cricket and always offer my services for my country. We discussed with Sri Lanka Cricket officials two days before and they already offered me to get my service for another year.

We knew our selection committee headed by Pramodya Wickramasinghe is doing a good job with proper selections. We have a good system here and from junior level to senior and National level we have good plans to develop. Especially we are in a good position to enter the final of the ICC Test Championship while we have a few grey areas to develop in white ball format. Our Sri Lanka A, Emerging level and National under 19 level we have made good progress while we have to know our requirements to develop cricket said Mahela.

We have talented local cricket coaches while they are in our system to build up teams. Apart from the National head coach Chris Silverwood, all others are local coaches added by Sri Lanka Cricket coaching field.

We already started to give grass wickets during National Super League tournament to give more exposure for our pacemen and batters. In addition Radella cricket stadium has been constructed recently and now we plan to give National team training before the New Zealand tour which will commence from February 16.

The present National selection committee headed by Pramodya Wickramasinghe has a good rapport with coaches and they always observe training as well as matches while a five-member Provincial selection committee comprising Nalliah Devarajan, Ajith Ekanayake, Suwanji Madanayake, Chandana Guruge, and Duminda Wickramasinghe always keep in touch with local matches to select players and this is a very successful system said Mahela.

We know we have two world cups T-20 and 50 over and focus on the ICC Test Championship. Our system is very correct with the pathway to go forward and Sri Lanka Cricket headed by Shammi Silva gives good support, said Jayawardena.

The psychology and motivation area of the cricketers is also a very important area to look after and already we are discussing with Prof. Arjuna de Silva to get support in this area. The coaches, trainers, and physiotherapists are giving very good service. I have to especially mention our junior selection committee headed by Ranjith Madurusinghe the former off-spinner. I have no doubt Madurusinghe is doing a very good job and he is very dedicated to doing that part. School cricket, National cricket, women's cricket, club cricket all these areas are very important and we have good plans to develop our Cricket he said.


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