National award winning cricket coach Davenal Whatmore - Sadder but wiser after his sensational tryst with destination in Sri Lanka flew out on Friday saying he had learnt from the world champions as much as he had taught them.
Whatmore told The Sunday Times he did not wish to say anything about internal disputes that virtually forced him to quit prematurely, but he cautioned the team captain that things would be very difficult if he did not get the co-operation of the players.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times on the eve of his departure Whatmore said, “It is a very sad situation, I would have loved to complete my contract and may be even think of an extension, however things changed and it did not work that way”.
The 42-year-old Sri Lankan born Australian who spent his childhood in Wellawatte for 08 years will join his family in Australia before flying to England in February to take up his new appointment with Lancashire.
Whatmore was no doubt fortunate to work with a extremely talented team during his 1 1/2 years stint in Sri Lanka. “We all learn when we get older and I have learned quite a lot from the Lankan team which has helped me become a better person and a better coach Today. I am certain that my experience in Sri Lanka will help me in my assignment with Lancashire.”
The coach signalled out the world cup victory as his most memorable moment. “The way the team played the world cup was very special. It had it’s controversies, when the Aussies and the Windies refused to play in Colombo. But defeating the Australians on a neutral ground with neutral umpires is something I cherish very much”, said the former Australian test cap.
Dave Whatmore who was signed on a 2-year contract in May, 1995 sought a pre-mature ending after he finalised his contract with Lancashire last month. The main reasons attributed to this among many others, was the Press censorship imposed on the coach on the eve of the Singer tournament. Since then Whatmore seldom saw eye to eye with the cricket management and the hierarchy of the Cricket Board. The relationships went from bad to worse and even caused dissension among some of the team players as well.
When asked what needs to be put in order to get Sri Lanka’s cricket back on the winning track Whatmore said, “The captain will have to first get the co-operation of his players or else it is going to be difficult”.
In the interest of cricket in Sri Lanka, the coach refused to point fingers on players or officials who had orchestrated events leading to his pre-mature departure. However Dave Whatmore will trace his 18 months as coach in Sri Lanka in his book which he hopes to publish before the end of the year. For the benefit of millions of Sri Lankan cricket fans Whatmore will also publish his book in Sinhala.
All is not lost for Sri Lanka cricket with Whatmore’s departure. The coach will have no hesitation in recommending the Lankan players for the English counties if required by them. “Counties are an ideal experience for good batsmen, but not for bowlers as it is very strenuous playing 5-6 days a week. I will only be pleased to recommend Lankans to the county circuit” Whatmore said.
The Cricket Board is now looking out for a coach and preferably a Foreigner. If the Cricket Board succeeds the question asked among many cricket fans are, will the new coach be given a free hand? Will the coach he permitted to speak to the media or would he be muzzled like Dave?
After all the strained relationships and hard feelings with Whatmore the Cricket Board bid farewell to him at a dinner hosted at the headquarters on Wednesday. Amongst the members were the Sri Lanka cricketers who joined to bid farewell to the cricket coach and show their gratitude to the man who propelled them to the greatest heights.
Sri Lanka’s number 3 batsman Asanka Gurusinha, in the centre of a controversy over the Sharjah debacle, has charged that he was and dumped from the national team without valid reason.
In an interview with our sister paper, “Tharunaya” the outspoken Gurusinha said another senior batsman Roshan Mahanama was also dropped without valid reason and Marvan Atapattu was brought in under mysterious circumstances which he did not wish to talk about.
Gurusinha, who left for Australia on Wednesday for a three-month contract, said he was deeply disturbed about the future of Sri Lanka’s cricket but his love for this country was strong as ever and he would never abandon it. He would be back for the next tour in March if the country needed him.
Excerpts:
Q: Why did you decide to go to Australia?
A: I’m going to Melbourne for an important club assignment involving top stars such as Shane Warne. I’ll be returning to Sri Lanka in March. I love my country deeply and I will never abandon it. I’ve committed my whole life to my country and that commitment stands strong even today.
Q: But there has been a problem about going on this contract to Australia.
A: Yes. There were problems for those who are looking for problems. They say I would not be able to honour my commitment to Sri Lanka. But if Aravinda could have come from Kent to join the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, why can’t I do the same and join the Lankan team in New Zealand if they need me.
Q: We want to ask you an important question. Is somebody trying to fix you or is there an inside move to dump you?
A: How can I answer? I have agreed in writing not to talk about tour for at least two years. But I will answer it in this way. Generally, I don’t know whether there was a plot against me, but I must say that on the recent Sharjah tour, I was dumped. They dropped me without valid reason. The same fate befell on Roshan Mahanama.
On the evening before the first match against New Zealand in Sharjah, Captain Arjuna Ranatunga told Roshan he was being left out of the team but did not give a reason. Why was it done like that? I was dropped from the second match and no reason was given. If some reason had been given, I could have consoled myself. I did not ask Arjuna. I just kept my mouth shut. What else could I do?
Q: As you see it, what were the reasons behind this move to dump you?
A: I am blunt and outspoken. I tell people whatever I want to tell them, friendships apart. Some now say that I am Dave Whatmore’s man. That may be partly true. He and I got on well. But there have been times when we have disagreed strongly. That’s my nature. Roshan is a close friend but at times I have strongly criticised him. I have done that to others also and that may be one of the reasons why I was dumped.
Q: If some say you were dropped because of poor form, how would you respond to that?
A: I did not fail in Sharjah. That wicket was very tricky and almost all batsmen failed with the exception of Pakistan’s Saeed Anwer. I could have forgotten about the team and adopted a hit-out or get-out attitude on that dicey pitch. But I put the team before myself.
Some others criticise me on the basis that I get run out too often. I must say that at least half of those run-outs were largely due to my attempt to save the batsman at the other end.
In the Sharjah match, I was run-out in an effort to save Sanath Jayasuriya. If I did not play with such a team spirit, perhaps, I could have saved my place.
Q: Some say you were dropped to bring Marvan Atapattu in. What do you feel?
A: Most teammates did not know Marvan was coming until he left Sri Lanka. It is a mystery. Shall we leave it at that?
Q: In such a situation, what do you feel about the future of Sri Lanka’s cricket?
A: Very disturbing, we have important tours ahead. But in the context of what prevails today, I have grave doubts about what might happen.
Q: There were rumours about fisticuffs among team members. Are they true?
A: We have not and will never descend to that level. If we have disputes, we will sort them out like gentlemen. Please tell everyone that. We never descended to the level of physically hitting anyone.
Q: What about your own future? Have you decided on any thing?
A: On Tuesday, I sent a letter to the Cricket Board. My future will depend on the response to that.
But I’m terribly disturbed (his voice broke down at this stage) that some might use this situation to degrade Sri Lanka’s spectacular triumph in the World Cup. Some might say it was sheer luck. But I know it was not so - it was grit, talent, determination and team work.
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