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Sri Lanka Cricket chief defends Marsh sacking

Sri Lanka’s cricket chief on Friday defended the sacking of Australian coach Geoff Marsh and the selection of a new team captain, saying the changes would help usher in a new era of “cricketing excellence”.

“We will reap the benefits of these changes in the fullness of time,” Sri Lanka Cricket president Upali Dharmadasa said in statement.

The sacking of Marsh on Wednesday – just three months into a two-year contract – was widely criticised, with former team skipper Arjuna Ranatunga calling the move “disgraceful” and “unprofessional”.

Marsh was replaced by South African Graham Ford, who becomes Sri Lanka’s fourth coach since Australian Trevor Bayliss stepped aside after the World Cup final in April 2011.

While voicing gratitude for Marsh’s efforts, Dharmadasa said it was time for Sri Lankan cricket to “move on”.

The appointment of Ford was “based on the fact that he can cope with the demands a 21st Century coach has to cope with in the international arena”, the statement said.

The change in coaches came two days after Tillakaratne Dilshan quit as team captain, to be replaced by former skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

“This change will also help Dilshan to concentrate more on his game,” Dharmadasa said.

“We strongly believe Dilshan’s contribution will be much more if he is relived of additional responsibility. This will help the team’s overhaul performance.”

Sri Lanka’s sports minister last week named a four-member selection panel and gave them one year to put the team in order after the side lost Test and one-day series to England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa.

6 Comments »

  1. Hope everything will turn out for good in future Sri Lanka cricket.
    We need to build the will of our cricketers to face the new Challenges.
    I was watching the Sri Lanka – South Africa ODI series and was sorry to see when Malinga was bowling very well taking SA wickets and low run rate he was given only three overs to ball initially, and changed to another bowler thereafter. I don’t know why Dilshan did this. It takes at least two overs for a bowler to adopt to the turf and Malinga was doing a good job. He played only for ODI series and we could have won the series if we gave him to ball more overs. Similar to Rangana Herath. We should capitalise these two bowlers in the future and If you could convey this to our now captain Mahela Jayawardena will be helpful.If a given bowler is doing a good job, they should be given to continue bowling without changing them, until the necessary overs are complete or until they feel tired.Also we have to build new pace bowlers with more speed, and spinners with more spin.Also bowlers should score runs without getting out too soon.Thank you

    //Ranjan
    30 January 2012 at 2:49 PM

  2. Our opening batsmen are getting out too soon. They should stay in the wicket in the first few overs even if it’s difficult to score. Also our batsmen need to know to face fast bowlers as well as bumpers without getting caught or bowled. Some kind of training should be given to face fast bowlers. Also the quick reaction to hit the ball fast and to build quick reflection has to build up. Also new bawling method has to be adopted for fast bowlers and the spinners.Also our bowlers are required to bat well and score runs.

    //Rohan
    30 January 2012 at 3:06 PM

  3. Mahela can’t even look after him self how can he lead a cricket team
    mahela and sanga were intentionally setting up the games to loose
    because they are so jelous of dilshan they think they are the leaders of srilankan cricket sanga is trying to get mcc membership by betraying srilanka. mahela is not playing cricket but he is taking his skinny wife on shopping expeditions these two are trying to act as english lords but every one knows they are just another two srilankan idiots.now that they have succeeded in getting rid of dilshan let’s see how they are going to win matches using their old negative strategies.

    //suranga
    31 January 2012 at 5:51 AM

  4. You are extremely right rohan. we wait and see how mahela is going to play in Ausi. also i want to add this.. Malinga is a stupid Idiot bowler.
    he can play IPL and ODIs But He cannot play Test cricket to his Country. This kind of players must band life time cricket. see how is behavior he for get his past. If BCCSL can Consider this its Good for SL Cricket in Future.

    //jilbatta
    31 January 2012 at 12:35 PM

  5. Jilbatti…To me, he looks like a very selfish individual, still it’s his right to play or not to play. I don’t think we should judge him, who knows, he might be having a medical issue?

    //Kamal
    31 January 2012 at 7:20 PM

  6. Sanjiva and Company – All the very best! As ayawls we are proud of your achievements! Hope we can catch up some day in this lifetime. All the vey best. !Anusha

    //Daniel
    18 February 2012 at 3:16 PM

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