Sri Lanka: Don't expect results overnight, says Dias (11 May 1998)

Monday 11, May 1998

Don't expect results overnight, says Roy

by SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

"Don't expect results overnight," said former Sri Lanka cricketer Roy Dias, who was appointed national coach to succeed Australia's Bruce Yardley on Saturday.

"I've just taken over and I need some time to settle down. Give me a series or two to get into the groove," said Dias.

"It's a big task but I am confident that with my coaching experience I can produce something. One plus point is that I can communicate with the players, most of whom I have played with and have managed in the past," he said.

Dias said the bottom line to his coaching was that he expected the players to give him 100 percent commitment.

"I am sure they will. I am confident of that," said Dias for whom the new appointment is the ultimate in coaching.

"Coaching is my line and the highest honour you can attain in that field is to become the national coach," said the former Sri Lanka vice-captain who never had the opportunity to lead his country during his six-year international career.

NOTHING RADICALLY WRONG - RANJIT

Ranjit Fernando, who took over the role of manager from Duleep Mendis for next week's tour here by New Zealand and for the Independence Cup tournament, is of the opinion that there is nothing radically wrong with the Sri Lanka team, but it was a matter of putting a few things right for them to hit the winning trend again.

"We are not a bad side. What happened in South Africa was that we were not fully prepared to take them on. I think we took a lot of things for granted, and we realised it a bit too late. South Africa on the other hand were very much prepared for us," said Fernando.

"Except for the last tour, we were doing well," said Fernando. He praised outgoing manager Mendis, for "having done a tremendous job" and for "maintaining a very high standard".

Fernando said that the players were professional enough to know what mistakes they made in South Africa and added: "My belief is that success has no magic formula".

He said that he was still unclear on what the Cricket Board's policies on certain matters were, but if required he would make the necessary changes. He said that he was a strong believer on values, and that he would concentrate a great deal on them.

Fernando who will work closely with newly appointed coach Roy Dias and captain Arjuna Ranatunga, said that he was "pleasantly surprised" at the Cricket Board's move to appoint him manager.

His first priority will be to help Dias prepare the team to take on New Zealand in a three-Test series and for the three-nation Independence Cup tournament to celebrate the country's fifty years of independence.

"Having worked with Dias before, I have an idea of how he operates," said Fernando, who was manager to Dias of the Sri Lanka 'A' team during the home series against England 'A' last year.

Fernando rated New Zealand as a "good side who have not really performed to expectations".

"New Zealand have been doing everything right, but not sufficient enough to bring them victories. Such a team is a dangerous one, because you don't know when they will come good," he said.

Fernando was manager of the Sri Lanka team during the 1991-92 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand and was last involved with the national side in 1994 as coach for the Mandela trophy tournament in South Africa. He said his appointment was presently for the home series against New Zealand and the Independence Cup and didn't want to comment on his availability beyond that.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)