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Sri Lanka are currently playing a T20I series against New Zealand and secured a seven-run win today in the third T20I.
Sri Lanka’s head coach Sanath Jayasuriya with Dhananjaya de Silva (Image: AP)
Two months into his tenure as Sri Lanka’s full-time head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya has already begun to leave an indelible mark. Taking over from Chris Silverwood, who stepped down following Sri Lanka’s failure to qualify for the Super 8s in last year’s T20 World Cup, Jayasuriya has guided the team to a series of remarkable achievements.
Under his leadership, Sri Lanka has displayed a resurgence in form. Notable successes include a 2-0 Test series sweep against New Zealand, a 2-0 ODI series triumph over India, and a historic away Test win against England. Currently engaged in a T20I series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling seven-run victory in the third match, showcasing their newfound confidence and grit.
Reflecting on his coaching philosophy, Jayasuriya told Hindustan Times, “I have given players a lot of confidence so they can come up and play their natural game. That’s a very important area for me to look at because I don’t want to put them under unnecessary pressure.”
The former Sri Lankan captain also highlighted the invaluable contributions of cricketing greats Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga. “They’ve been involved right from when I became a coach, so I consider myself very lucky. Whenever I required them to do anything involving the players, Sanga and Malinga turned up. Their international experience coming through to these boys is crucial,” Jayasuriya added.
Appointed as head coach on October 7 last year, Jayasuriya’s first series in charge was against the West Indies. A decorated cricketer in his own right, Jayasuriya played 110 Tests, 445 ODIs, and 31 T20Is for Sri Lanka, amassing 42 international centuries and taking 440 wickets. His contributions were instrumental in Sri Lanka’s historic ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1996.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s recent T20I win against New Zealand was a testament to the team’s resurgence. Defending a target of 219, Sri Lanka restricted the Kiwis to 211, with Kusal Perera earning Player of the Match honours for his scintillating century.
