Sri Lankan batting great Mahela Jayawardene has been roped in as the consultant coach of the country’s national teams, Cricket Age exclusively learns.
The decision by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been taken keeping in mind Jayawardene’s tremendous track record with Mumbai Indians and other T20 teams around the globe. Mahela Jayawardene, who is considered one of the best tacticians going around, took over from Ricky Ponting in 2016 and has overseen three title-winning campaigns (2017, 2019 and 2020) with the most successful IPL franchise.
As a consultant coach, Jayawardene will share his vast experience and provide invaluable strategic support to the players and management team, while taking charge of all cricket related matters.
Jayawardene is also associated with Sri Lanka U-19 team in the same capacity, as it prepares for next year’s ICC U-19 World Cup in the West Indies. His five-month role with the U-19 team is being performed in an ‘honorary’ capacity.
“We are very happy to welcome Mahela into his new roles, as his presence with the Sri Lanka senior Team is going to help the players immensely,’’ a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
The association is for one year, starting from 1st January 2022. During the period, Mahela will be in-charge of overall cricketing element of the national teams and will provide invaluable strategic support for the players and management teams at the High-Performance Center.
“He will be heading the committees to select coaches also. Overall, he will be incharge of our cricket. From his playing days, Mahela was respected for the vast cricketing knowledge he brought into the game, first as a player, then as a Captain and now as a Coach for different teams,’’ top SLC official added.
Jayawardene has been appointed to the new role by Sri Lanka Cricket’s Executive Committee following recommendations made by the Technical Advisory Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket.
’We are extremely happy that Mahela is joining the National Team for an extended role, especially given the context that Sri Lanka has a heavy international calendar during the year 2022,’’ said Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket.
“Mahela’s contributions during the first round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup became invaluable for the overall performancesof our team in the concluded event,’ De Silva, further added.
Despite the new appointment, Jayawardena will continue to perform in his role with the Under-19 team, as it prepares for next year’s ICC under-19 World Cup to be held in West Indies.
“This is an exciting opportunity to work with the national cricketers and coaches in our various development squads, including the U19 and A Team teams, to help us do justice to the enormous cricketing talent and potential in Sri Lanka,” said Jayawardene.
“I am very passionate about Sri Lankan cricket and believe that with a coordinated and focused team effort, taking a holistic approach working across all age groups, we can achieve consistent success in the future,” he added.
“My main role will be supporting our team of national coaches and support staff in terms of our preparation and strategic-thinking during the coming year.”
During an illustrious career for Sri Lanka, Jayawardene represented his national side in 149 Tests, 448 ODIs, and 55 T20Is. He finished as Sri Lanka’s second-highest scorer in Test cricket with 11814 runs, 34 centuries, and 50 half-centuries. Compatriot Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 12,400 remains the country’s best in the traditional format.
Only recently, Mickey Arthur left his role as the head coach of Sri Lanka to join county side, Derbyshire as its Director of Cricket. Arthur was in charge when Sri Lanka defeated West Indies 2-0 at home last month.
