Confidence and fearlessness paying off — coach Ratnayake
Women’s cricket in Sri Lanka is making strides after the takeover of former Sri Lanka fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake, who is considered a ‘man of his words’. As a coach, working previously at different positions with the Sri Lanka Men’s National cricket team, Ratnayake always made sure the environment would be challenging, positive and constructive.Those were the components he brought along when he joined the Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team earlier this year, after his former team mate Hashan Tillakaratne decided to decamp as the head coach. After Ratnayake’s takeover Sri Lanka women cricketers engaged in three bilateral tours – against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home and the ongoing series against England women in the Land of the Rose.
This week’s historic T20 series win by the Sri Lanka lasses, where the Englishwomen were rightly and soundly beaten 2-1, comes as a much bigger leap than their previous ODI series win against New Zealand and the ODI and T20 series wins against Bangladesh.
However, Ratnayake is humble enough to accept the fact that he is just a messenger, who stepped up to take over the role as head coach of the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team, after ‘positively’ seeing their potential, which were underutilised and undervalued.
“The whole credit should go to the girls, for giving me the ear, and implementing my thoughts and plans into action on the field, but in their own unique way,” Ratnayake, humbly, yet proudly told the Sunday Times.
The resurgence of the Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team was in sight at the last ICC Women’s T20 World Cup held in South Africa in February. They were placed overall eighth with two wins – against the hosts and Bangladesh and losses – against Australia and New Zealand. Though Ratnayake elaborated that it was not what was really anticipated, he shrugged on what Sri Lanka would become in time to come.
“The performance was impressive during the World Cup, and what was needed afterwards was adding confidence and taking off the fear factor from these talented bunch of girls,” he added.
What followed next was Ratnayake’s implementation of a concrete structure to women’s cricket in Sri Lanka, not looking at a tour or two, but aiming way ahead. He related his intention to the officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), who gladly agreed to Ratnayake and gave him a free hand to take women’s cricket and its status a level or two ahead.
Rumesh Ratnayake
Ratnayake had thoroughly observed where Sri Lanka women cricketers were comparing to the global standards, and he began his mission from the ground level. That was to put the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team against Under-17 boys’ cricket teams, who could be related as much advanced for their age in batting, bowling and fielding with the lasses.
“We played matches, and at the beginning the girls were not up to it. But gradually they changed and took the challenge positively,” explained Ratnayake, who went on to say that the girls were soon ready to take on an Under-19 boys’ team with grit.
Ratnayake’s professionalism and experience working previously at the highest level had given him the impulse on how to convince the girls, who had changed within a short span of time. The way they approached towards a game had drastically changed and what followed next were four series wins from three bilateral tours.
“It was very easy doing things with a fantastic captain like Chamari (Athapaththu). First I spoke to her and explain things, and she was on the same page, as was the supporting staff. It made easy to expedite matters, and the backing from SLC was immense,” he stated.
With a positive, challenging and constructive environment in place, the girls were given the liberty to try out things at the middle. Coupled up with a skipper with greater experience, and being given the room to learn from possible mistakes that could take place, the girls changed their attitude towards the game, gradually but surely.
“In this environment you don’t laugh at mistakes. It’s about creating a challenging and positive environment. No one can set a field from inside the dressing room, and I want my players to try out new things. We saw the results against Bangladesh and New Zealand. We see it now, it won’t end here,” said Ratnayake, who foresees a positive change to women’s cricket in Sri Lanka.
Against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka women played three each One Day Internationals (ODI) and Twenty20s (T20) during April 29 and May 12. Sri Lanka wrapped up both series – the ODIs by 1-0 and the T20s by 2-1.
The historic moment when Sri Lanka women cricketers claimed their maiden series win against Englishwomen
Then followed the significant trump against a top notched side – New Zealand, who toured Sri Lanka between June 27 and July 12. The Sri Lankan lasses made history by claiming the ODI series 2-1, winning the first game by 9 wickets and the third by 8 wickets, despite losing the second game by 111 runs. They were down 2-0 in the T20 series after losing the first two games by 5 wickets and 8 wickets, but made a huge impact by winning third and final T20 game comprehensively by 10 wickets with 33 deliveries remaining.
By the end of both these tours Ratnayake’s plan of adhering positivity, creativity and fearlessness had begun to pay dividends. What followed next was the historic series win against the English women in England. Though losing the first game by 12 runs on Duckworth and Lewis Method, the Lankan lasses managed to skittle out English ladies 104 and 116 in the following two games. They won the games by 8 wickets and 7 wickets to make history in England.
“We have a very good side, seniors and newcomers combined. SLC and the coaching staff have laid out a very good structure and the support the team gets is invaluable. We have the possibility of dreaming bigger in the future,” stated skipper Chamari Athapaththu after winning the third and final T20.
“We are a fresh group and we always talk about positive things in our dressing room. We never talk about negatives. We executed the right plans at the right time,” she added.
Under Ratnayake’s watchful eyes Tharindu Perera acts as the assistant coach and bowling coach, while Malinda Warnapura is the batting coach. Apart from Carmen Mapatuna, who is the fielding coach, the support staff includes a trainer, physio and a masseur.
Ratnayake hopes the recent successes of the women’s team, notably the T20 series win against England, could indicate of a bright and steady future ahead for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka. They have overcome the fear factor, highly confident at any game and work as a unit with positivity towards a win. This, as Ratnayake said, needs to continue.
“The challenge will be to maintain the consistency. There may come good days and bad days, but we need to have the confidence. The future is bright, the women’s cricket structure is not big as boy’s cricket in Sri Lanka. But I’m sure this will be a turning point in creating awareness among girls’ schools in Sri Lanka,” he noted, praising his gritty set of girls led by Athapaththu.