Should Sri Lanka hire a bowling coach?

Should Sri Lanka hire a specialized bowling coach is the question that many asked following Sri Lanka’s 3-1 defeat in the hands of the Indians in the five-match ODI series where the bowlers failed miserably to defend totals in excess of 300. Brushing aside the idea of having a specialized bowling coach, a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official says that the loss was more due to the absence of a number of key players.
“We had a very potent attack but a number of players had to return home with injuries which I personally believe contributed largely to the defeats,” said SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga adding that the present coaching staff is quite capable of handling the job along with the Fast Bowling Academy.
He said that both Chandika Hathurusinghe, the shadow coach and Stuart Law, the assistant coach, were more than useful players during their playing days and they are quite capable of handling the bowling department on tour.
Sri Lanka has a specialized bowling department head in former fast bowler Anusha Samaranayake and has produced a number of fast bowlers of international standard but has not been able to sustain their performances at the optimum level.
Despite winning both Test and ODI series India captain MS Dhoni last week urged the need for a specialized bowling coach to support his team despite achieving the best ever ranking in Tests.
However, Ranatunga said that they would not hire a bowling coach as of now as they have confidence in the men in charge at the moment.
Sri Lanka has four specialized coaches: head coach, assistant coach, batting coach and a fielding coach but not a specialized bowling coach.
– (CF)