Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain Dasun Shanaka revealed that he has requested the national team management to provide “throw down” coaches to the young team just like Team India has Sri Lankan “Bawwa” Nuwan Seneviratne ahead of the ODI series against South Africa.
Dasun has requested the Sri Lankan team management to provide two throw-down specialists – a left-arm and a right-arm separate coaches to train the youngsters to face the South African bowlers in the upcoming three-match ODI series, starting on Thursday, September 2, in Colombo.
Sri Lanka and South Africa will also play three T20Is on September 10, 12, and 14 in Colombo.
Dasun said, “We have only three bowlers who deliver over 140 kmph. Since we cannot bring the bowlers from outside I requested for throw-down specialists. Bawwa is being used by India because of his pace and bounce which is very important when they play abroad.”
Seneviratne, who is known as “Bawwa”, is famous for his left-hand throw downs in the nets which hit a maximum speed of around 175 kph, was part of Sri Lanka’s coaching staff, but was removed due to complaints of throwing too fast.
According to media reports, getting Nuwan joined to India was captain Virat Kohl's idea before India's series against Australia in 2018. Kohli who believed Mitchell Starc was going to be a problem had urged to recruit Nuwan and got his team trained for his throwdowns.
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The Sri Lankan skipper added, “We need a team who gives throw downs continuously throughout the practice session. This is important for a young team to develop their skill. If the young players can get training like that during their first one and two years that experience could be used throughout their career whether it would be five years or ten years.”
Earlier, Asantha de Mel, former chairman of the National Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket, had revealed that some Sri Lanka players did not want to face speedy throws of Nuwan Seneviratne and that’s why he was removed and it was a huge “loss” for the national side, but India is now “getting benefited”.
(With IANS Inputs)
