Ranatunga finds favours

COLOMBO Aug 2: Sri Lanka's new cricket coach Dav Whatmore, on his second stint after leaving the Emerald Islands in a huff in 1996 follow...

COLOMBO Aug 2: Sri Lanka’s new cricket coach Dav Whatmore, on his second stint after leaving the Emerald Islands in a huff in 1996 following differences with then skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, said the stocky batsman still had a great deal to offer to the team.

“I think Arjuna has a lot to offer and should be included in the team,” Whatmore, the 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lanka coach told reporters after being recalled to coach the team following its humiliating campaign in England World Cup.

Whatmore’s comments come ahead of the crucial meeting of the national selectors to announce a 14-member team from 30 probables for the August 22-31 triangular series with India and Australia.

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Whatmore, who left after the 1996 World Cup triumph following reported differences with Ranatunga over the approach to the game, said Sri Lanka’s miserable performance in this year’s World Cup was probably due to players failing to adjust to the English conditions.

“Also when you are the world champions, everybody will try to damn you. In the process the opponents always get better and better,” he said.

Addressing reporters at his first press conference after taking over as coach for the second term, Whatmore, however, refused to reveal the reason why he left Sri Lankan team after the 1996 World Cup and took up coaching assignment with English county Lancashire.

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