Sydney Sixers coach Trevor Bayliss has expressed his sympathy for Geoff Marsh who is expected to be dumped as Sri Lankan coach this week.
Sri Lankan stalwart Tillakaratne Dilshan has already quit as captain in all three formats, replaced by ex-skipper Mahela Jayawardene for the upcoming limited-overs series involving Australia and India starting on February 5.
Marsh’s imminent removal and Dilshan’s exit as captain were part of an ongoing shake-up after Sri Lanka’s recent poor performances.
The former Australian Test opener Marsh has reportedly been replaced by South African Graham Ford just four months after taking over the top job in Sri Lanka last September.
And Bayliss, who coached the island nation for four years before resigning after last year’s World Cup, says Marsh’s circumstances are something he’s familiar with.
“I’ve experienced it in the past and it’s a difficult situation for a coach to be in,” Bayliss said.
“I was lucky that I got through that initial six-to-eight month period.
“My first six to eight months there, we probably lost a few games we should have won and the same sort of things were being touted at that stage as well. (I was) lucky enough to go on and do my four years.”
Under Marsh, Sri Lanka snapped a Test winless run stretching over 12 months with their first victory in South Africa in the second Test in Durban last month.
But the tourists went on to lose the series 2-1 and then fell short in the one-day series 3-2, including a humiliating 258-run defeat in Paarl where the Sri Lankans were dismissed for just 43 runs.
Bayliss says he feels the country’s ongoing boardroom issues – with several players reportedly having not been paid on time in recent months – has had an effect on their performance rather than coaching.
“I think it’s a sign of the turmoil behind the scenes,” he said.
“Looking at the guys on the TV … they look like they’re not playing with a lot of confidence and maybe there’s a few guys looking over their shoulders.
“That’s not a good environment for success.”
Sri Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage last week named a four-member selection panel headed by former national player Asantha de Mel and gave them one year to put the team in order.
“We are changing things at the top to try and change things around,” Aluthgamage told Agence France Press.
The 35-year-old Dilshan took up the captaincy on a series-by-series basis after Kumar Sangakkara stepped down following Sri Lanka’s defeat in the 2011 World Cup final against India.
Under Dilshan, who will continue as a player, Sri Lanka lost Test and one-day series against England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa.
Sri Lankan selectors have recalled Farveez Maharoof and Chanaka Welegedera for the triangular one-day series in Australia.
Sri Lankan squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisira Perera, Farveez Maharoof, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayaka, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Chanaka Welegedera, Dhammika Prasad.
