Thilan Samaraweera appointed as batting coach till 2019 World Cup

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has signed up former Test cricketer Thilan Samaraweera as the batting coach of the senior team. Samaraweera will be contracted with SLC until the 2019 World Cup.

The solid former middle order batsman migrated to Australia after retiring in 2013 and has had several coaching experience with the most notable one being the time he spent with Bangladesh as their batting coach.

The 40-year-old’s first assignment will be the upcoming tour of India where Sri Lanka will play three Tests, three ODIs and three T20 Internationals.

Samaraweera will arrive in Colombo Monday night and will have just over 24 hours before the team flies to Kolkata. The Sri Lankans have eight days prior to the first Test at Eden Gardens that includes a warm-up game as well at India’s iconic venue.

A dogged middle order batsman, who played over 80 Test matches, Samaraweera earned a reputation for his planing during his stint with Bangladesh.

Having started his career as an off-spinner, Samaraweera realized that he had little hope as an international cricketer playing alongside a certain Muttiah Muralitharan. So he concentrated heavily on batting and after several consistent performances for Sri Lanka ‘A’, made his Test debut in 2001.

He scored over 5000 Test runs at an average of 48. In 2011, after being controversially dropped for the third Test against Australia at his home ground - Sinhalese Sports Club, where he averaged 77 in Tests, Samaraweera was brought back for the tour of South Africa later that year and made back to back hundreds against a solid attack.

- Crickbuzz