Sri Lanka Cricket is driven by a single, all encompassing vision: to make Sri Lanka the best cricket playing nation in the world in both forms of the game. Great progress has been made since Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test against England in 1982, including a World Cup win in 1996, but the fulfillment of our ambition will require dynamic leadership and much hard work over the coming years.
The achievement of excellence at the international level demands that Sri Lanka Cricket employs the best possible support staff and trainers for our players and offers them international standard training facilities.
World cricket has changed dramatically during the past decade. The physical demands on the players are now immense. Sri Lanka Cricket therefore also decided to appoint a team physiotherapist, Paul Klarenaar, and a separate full-time fitness trainer, Shane Duff. Paul was based at the New South Wales Institute of Sport from 1995 to 2003. Shane, a Grade I cricketer and former professional rugby league player, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Movement Studies from the Australian Catholic University, Sydney.
To help bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket, and to speed up the development of our upcoming players, a new intensive program for the A team and Under-19 has been agreed. The A team will undertake a total of 15 tours or series over the coming 5 years, an unprecedented level of international exposure that we hope will better prepare our young players for the highest level.
