Darrel Foster returns to Sri Lanka to work with fast bowlers (Media Release)

With the national team touring South Africa and preparing for a tough series on some lively wickets, the next generation of Sri Lankan fast bowlers are to begin an intensive 14 days of training on Monday under the learned guidance of ex-test fast bowler, Rumesh Ratnayake, and renowned Australian bowling coach, Darrel Foster.

Darrel Foster, who's association with Sri Lankan cricket stretches back to his coaching days with Kent when Aravinda de Silva was their overseas player, helped set up a Bowlers Academy eight months ago and he returns to the island for the second stage of this ongoing programme.

The focus of his present trip will be fast bowling. The aim of the programme is to increase the depth of fast bowling talent in Sri Lanka and to produce a future fast bowling attack to match the likes of Australia and South Africa.

Speaking to the media last night, Foster said: "We all know that Sri Lanka can win at home but we are not so sure that they can win test matches abroad where conditions favour fast bowlers. With the help of this programme I hope that we will see the day, when fast bowlers from Sri Lanka can come out to Australia and give the kind of hurry-up, that Lee and McGrath are giving the West Indian batsmen at the moment. "

The fast bowling unit has already proved to be successful. Two young fast bowlers, Dilhara Fernando and Kaushalya Weereratne, have already graduated into the national squad. A number of others have represented Sri Lanka `A' and Sri Lanka Under 19's.

Foster was quick to pay tribute to Rumesh Ratnayake, who has worked hard with the fast bowlers throughout the last eight months: "The progress of the fast bowlers has been quite remarkable and full credit for this should go to Rumesh Ratnayake, who takes full charge of the programme when I am not here and has done a wonderful job."

The intensive two-week programme begins in earnest on Monday morning when Darrel Foster checks on the progress of the current squad. Detailed records have been maintained on each player's technique, fitness and mental skills since they were inducted into the squad.

Then, both Foster and Ratanayake, will have the task of selecting the new squad. They plan to identify a training squad of approximately 15 to 20 in number. This will be selected from both the current squad and from a pool of 90 fast bowlers who have been brought to Colombo from all corners of the island. The bowlers will be aged between 17 and 21 years old.

When the new programme begins on Tuesday the bowlers will be tutored on what Darrel Foster refers to as the `three ingredients to success,' namely technique, fitness and mental skills.

Foster was highly impressed with the enormous talent that he witnessed on his last visit and the comparatively advanced technical skills of the young players. He suggested that the probable reason for this was the competitive school system, which was `far superior' to those in Australia and England. He thus expected to concentrate more on physical ad mental skills during the two weeks, although he also promised some work on the mysterious art of reverse swing.

The Bowling Academy was set up with two components: fast bowling and spin bowling and the new BCCSL manager of coaching, Jerome Jayaratne, promised that there will be a Specialist Spin bowling coach appointed shortly.

Thank you for your publicity,

Chandrishan Perera
Media Manger