da dobrowin： The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) have announced thatformer Sri Lankan fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake has taken over from RumeshRatnayake as the country’s fast bowling coach
Rex Clementine20-Sep-2001The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) have announced thatformer Sri Lankan fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake has taken over from RumeshRatnayake as the country’s fast bowling coach.Ratnayake’s successful stint with the BCCSL coincided with emergence of anumber of promising fast bowlers – including Dilhara Fernando, RuchiraPerera, Dinusha Fernando, Akalanka Ganegama, Ishara Amarasinghe and PrabathNissanka – but was ended when the Asian Cricket Council recently poachedhim.Ratnayake had also worked closely with West Australian fast bowling expertDarrel Foster to set-up and manage the BCCSL fast bowling academy.The Galle-based Ramanayake had worked as an understudy to Ratnayake. The36-year-old played 18 Tests and 62 One-Day Internationals for Sri Lankaafter making his debut in 1987. He continued to play first class cricket forGalle CC after his international retirement and regularly played in theLancashire League in England.Pramodaya Wickramasinghe, 30, who has recently suffered from a shoulderinjury and drifted out of international cricket after a disappointing tourof South Africa, will join-up with Ramanayake and work as his understudy.Darrel Foster will shortly arrive in Sri Lanka for another intensivetwo-week programme with the Fast Bowling Academy. He will also work with allrounder Suresh Perera, who was reported in the recent Test series againstIndia by umpire Steve Bucknor for having a suspect bowling action.