SLC Confirms Rotational Coaching System for National Team

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed that newly appointed batting and bowling coaches Julian Wood and Rene Ferdinands will work with the national side on a rotational basis, alongside existing coaches Thilina Kandamby and Piyal Wijetunge.

Clarifying the structure, SLC CEO Ashley de Silva stated that all four coaches remain integral parts of the national coaching setup, and that their involvement with the men’s national team will vary from tour to tour.

“All these coaches are national coaches, but that doesn’t mean they will work solely with the men’s national team,” de Silva explained.
“Across the board, there are national teams. On a rotational basis, tour by tour, we will decide who will be joining the teams. Other than the head coach and a few others, the rest will be rotated.”

The rotational model, uncommon in international cricket, mirrors elements of South Africa’s system, where specialists such as Imran Khan and Paul Adams are occasionally assigned to different national squads under the supervision of the high-performance centre.

Wood, a power-hitting specialist from England, recently joined SLC on a one-year contract after conducting a successful “power-hitting programme” earlier in 2025. His sessions with both men’s and women’s players were well received. Ferdinands, a biomechanics expert, brings experience from his time with the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy and New Zealand Cricket.

Despite the recent appointments, Kandamby (batting coach since December 2023) and Wijetunge (spin-bowling coach since 2006) will continue their roles within SLC’s coaching structure. Their positions had faced scrutiny following Sri Lanka’s T20I series defeat to Bangladesh in July, but de Silva reaffirmed their continued importance.

“Their contracts have not been terminated,” de Silva said. “It doesn’t matter where they are assigned; they must be ready to work. Wood and Ferdinands are also designated in the same way — they will operate across teams depending on the tours.”

Sri Lanka’s next assignment is a three-match ODI series in Pakistan in November, followed by a T20I tri-series also featuring Zimbabwe. According to de Silva, the executive committee has yet to decide which combination of coaches will accompany the team on that tour.