Mickey Arthur to be designated as Sri Lanka’s head coach

Former South African coach, Mickey Arthur agreed to a two-year-contract with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) as their new head coach.

According to reports, Grant Flower will join the set-up as the batting coach, while David Saker and Shane McDermott will take over as bowling and fielding coach respectively.

Sri Lanka Cricket has agreed to a two-year contract with the new staff, although Flower will only work with the limited overs team and won’t travel to Pakistan for the Test series beginning 11 December.

Sri Lanka’s current head coach is Chandika Hathurusingha. Australian Shane McDermott has already been roped in as team’s new fielding coach.

The SLC have made major changes in their coaching setup with appointments of Grant Flower as batting coach, David Saker as bowling coach and Shane McDermott as fielding coach.

Arthur is one of the most experienced coaches around, having being involved with three international teams for a significant period.

During his tenure with South Africa, from 2005 to 2010, Arthur helped the Proteas achieve the top position in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings, oversaw their victory over England in an away Test series for the first time in over four decades, and their maiden Test series victory in Australia, in 2008-09.

He was also at the helm when Pakistan lifted the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time, in 2017, and during the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side’s streak of 10 consecutive T20I series wins as they ascended to the top spot in the rankings.

The former Pakistan head coach had been sacked after the team’s underwhelming performance in the World Cup.