John Dyson
Published : Jun 28, 2003 00:00 IST
Former Australian batsman John Dyson will be Sri Lanka's next coach, newly-elected board President Thilanga Sumathipala said.
"We will be entering into a memorandum of understanding with John Dyson," Sumathipala announced at a news conference.
The 48-year-old will replace stand-in coach Duleep Mendis, who took over from Colombo-born Australian Dav Whatmore, after the West Indies tour that finishes on July 1 in Jamaica.
Recently retired Sri Lanka batsman Aravinda de Silva, who was elected vice-president and immediately placed in charge of cricketing affairs, said Dyson is well qualified for the job.
"John (Dyson) is in touch with the latest coaching methods, has experience working alongside the likes of Bob Simpson and Peter Philpott at New South Wales, and has a masters in physical training and sports psychology," said de Silva.
Dyson played in 30 Test matches for Australia between 1977 and 1984 scoring 1359 runs.
The appointment of Dyson ends a difficult search for Whatmore's replacement.
Earlier, Englishman Bob Woolmer, South African Graham Ford, New Zealand's John Bracewell and Australians Greg Chappell and Steve Rixon all pulled out of discussions with the board.