Jonty Rhodes And Brett Lee Are Likely To Join The Coaching Staff Of Sri Lanka Cricket Team
Oct 14, 2019 at 6:32 PM
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is currently busy to find out the coaching staff for the men’s national cricket team. According to some recent media reports, former South African star cricketer Jonty Rhodes and former Australian star fast bowler Brett Lee are likely to join Sri Lankan team as the fielding and bowling coach respectively.
Sri Lanka men’s national cricket team has won one ICC Cricket World Cup trophy (1996) and one ICC World T20 trophy (2014). Once, Sri Lanka dominated the Asian cricket and the team was also a strong competitor in international cricket.
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However, the present moment is different for the Sri Lanka men’s national cricket team. The team is currently running in a transition period. So, the team is currently struggling in international cricket, especially in longer formats.
In the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales, Sri Lanka struggled to perform consistently. At the end of that tournament, Sri Lanka finished in the sixth position.
Recently, the inexperienced Sri Lankan team travelled in Pakistan for the limited-overs series. While Sri Lanka lost the three-match ODI series (2-0), they whitewashed the hosts in the three-match T20I series.
The SLC is very serious to produce good result in the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Australia will host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 from 18th October to 15th November 2020.
Jonty Rhodes can take the fielding coach role of Sri Lankan team
According to the latest media reports, former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes can be the next fielding coach of Sri Lankan cricket team. The 50-year-old Rhodes was famous for his incredible fielding during his cricket career. He played 52 Tests and 245 ODIs in his international career from 1992 to 2003.
Jonty Rhodes has very good experiences in coaching. He worked as a fielding coach for the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Mumbai Indians (MI). Rhodes also worked as an assistant coach for Kenya men’s national cricket team.
Recently, Rhodes applied for the fielding coach job of Indian men’s national cricket team. He was very close to take that role, but R Sridhar has retained that position.
Brett Lee may be Sri Lanka’s next bowling coach
Meanwhile, former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee can be the next bowling coach of Sri Lankan team. The 42-year-old played 76 Tests, 221 ODIs and 25 T20Is from 1999 to 2012.
In ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Ireland appointed Brett Lee as a bowling coach.
Former Pakistan left-arm pacer Wasim Akram has also shown his interest to become a part in Sri Lankan coaching unit. Former English cricketer Julian Wood is also another front runner who is famous as the power-hitting coach.