SLC High Performance Manager Simon Willis to call it quits
High Performance Manager Simon Willis has tendered his resignation while Roy Dias is out as U-19 Coach
Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) High Performance Manager (HPM) Simon Willis has decided to call it quits, of his association with the island nation, with effect from June 30 this year – exactly two years after he took over, replacing the then Head of Coaching of SLC, Jerome Jayaratne.
Englishman Willis is from Kent where he played 16 first class matches, mainly as a wicket-keeper.
With the establishment of the High Performance Centre (HPC) at the Maitland Place Office, even the hands-on coaching facility at the Kettarama Stadium also came under Willis’ control.
As High Performance Manager, Willis’ job function was to play a key role in identifying and developing cricketers on the Sri Lanka periphery. However, his actions did not go down well with a section of the senior players, and it is well known that former Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who just took over as ‘Bowling Mentor’ of Mumbai for the forthcoming IPL tournament, had some negative comments about Willis’ style of operations.
However, SLC had elaborate plans for the elevation of high tech facilities for the Lankan cricketers, with the High Performance Centre and the Brain Centre which is nearing completion, being a part of it.
SLC’s former cricket mentor and former mercurial batsman Aravinda de Silva was one person who was impressed by Willis’ track record. In reality, Willis holds a number of coaching qualifications, including the ECB’s Level 4 certificate, a Level 4 Specialist Wicket-keeping qualification, and a Level 3 certificate for Coach Education.
Once, de Silva said, “He is just the kind of person that Sri Lanka cricket needs to move forward, and this guy has the credentials to accomplish that task.”
Meanwhile, after the questionable performance of the Sri Lanka Under (U)-19 cricketers at the ICC U-19 World Cup effort in New Zealand, its coach Roy Dias seems to be paying the price for the poor show. It is understood he would be given another responsibility in the batting department.
The Lankan teenagers were bowled out of the main competition of the ICC tournament in the first round itself, and later had to be satisfied with the Plate title – an accolade generally associated with cricketing nations still in the process of learning its basics.
An SLC insider told the Sunday Times, “Yes, we are in the process of advertising these positions.”
However, it is also learned that former Sri Lanka opening batsman Malinda Warnapura – a nephew of former national captain Bandula Warnapura — has been earmarked for the position of Under 19 Coach.