FORMER Australia coach Geoff Marsh has been appointed to lead Sri Lanka for the next two years, taking the role vacated by Trevor Bayliss.
Marsh – father of Australia’s most recent Test debutant Shaun – was in Sri Lanka this month, watching his son make a century on Test debut, but the 52-year-old was also in discussions to coach the subcontinent nation – talks which have been fruitful.
The former Australian batsman – a veteran of 50 Tests and 117 one-day internationals – will leave his role at Indian Premier League franchise Pune Warriors.
“I told Pune Warriors and they were very good about it. Coaching an international team takes a lot of time and being able to fit both of them in just wouldn’t have happened,” Marsh told ESPNcricinfo.
“They’re very comfortable with it. I enjoyed my year at Pune Warriors. They’re a fantastic family. They could see that coaching an international team is an honour, so it was all good.”
Marsh’s appointment comes after much unrest in the coaching ranks at Sri Lanka, with former assistant Stuart Law leaving to take charge of Bangladesh after Bayliss departed following the end of the World Cup last April.
It was a promising campaign for the Sri Lankans, who made the final as co-hosts, but ultimately lost to fellow hosts India.
Marsh has experience in winning the coveted World Cup, doing so as a player in 1987 in the green and gold, and he was also in charge of Australia when they triumphed in 1999 – making him the only person to play in, and coach, a side to the Cup.
His coaching resumé also includes a four-year stint leading Zimbabwe, and also a brief period in charge of Fremantle District Cricket Club in his home state of Western Australia. (CA)