Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will launch specialized Fast and Spin Bowling Academies at the High Performance Center (HPC), with the aim of developing a talent pool that will serve as a feeder system for the national team.
Under the guidance of the Cricket Selection Committee, the High Performance Coaching Staff screened 105 first-class players from Tier A and B clubs at the RPICS Nets last week.
The screened players were selected based on the recommendations of their club coaches, who followed guidelines provided by the HPC coaches and the cricket selection committee during an initial meeting.
From the pool of screened players, squads will be chosen for the respective academies and once selected, they will undergo intensive training to enhance their skills and competencies.
This initiative will help build a competitive bowling unit at the HPC covering both spin and fast bowling, thus giving SLC the luxury of a squad consisting of players with skills and competencies to fill the national shoes as and when needed,
The ‘fast bowlers’ were screened by the HPC coaches, Anusha Samaranayake (National Fast Bowling Coach), Ravindra Pushpakumara, Chamila Gamage, and Darshana Gamage, while Spin Bowlers were screened by coaches Piyal Wijetunge, Sajeewa Weerakoon and Sachith Pathirana.
Ajantha Mendis, Tharanga Paranavithana, Dilruwan Perera, and Indika De Saram, the cricket selection committee members, were keeping a watchful eye throughout the program.
Going forward, the SLC also intends to carry out the screening program in the outstation regions, covering district and provincial cricket, in order to further expand the talent search.