Rumesh Ratnayake
{{Short description|Sri Lankan cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Rumesh Ratnayake
රුමේෂ් රත්නායක
| image =
| country = Sri Lanka
| fullname = Rumesh Joseph Ratnayake
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1964|01|02}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nickname =
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightcm =
| heightm =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm fast-medium
| role = Bowler
| website =
| international = true
| internationalspan = 1982–1993
| testdebutdate = 4 March
| testdebutyear = 1983
| testdebutagainst = New Zealand
| testcap = 21
| lasttestdate = 2 January
| lasttestyear = 1992
| lasttestagainst = Pakistan
| odidebutdate = 26 September
| odidebutyear = 1982
| odidebutagainst = India
| odicap = 28
| lastodidate = 1 December
| lastodiyear = 1993
| lastodiagainst = West Indies
| odishirt =
| columns = 2
| column1 = Test
| matches1 = 23
| runs1 = 433
| bat avg1 = 14.43
| 100s/50s1 = 0/2
| top score1 = 56
| deliveries1 = 4,961
| wickets1 = 73
| bowl avg1 = 35.10
| fivefor1 = 5
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 6/66
| catches/stumpings1 = 9/–
| column2 = ODI
| matches2 = 70
| runs2 = 612
| bat avg2 = 16.54
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 33*
| deliveries2 = 3575
| wickets2 = 76
| bowl avg2 = 35.68
| fivefor2 = 1
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 5/32
| catches/stumpings2 = 11/–
| date = 3 March
| year = 2016
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/50249.html Cricinfo
}}
Rumesh Joseph Ratnayake (born 2 January 1964), is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 23 Test matches and 70 One Day Internationals from 1982 to 1993. He was an interim head coach of Sri Lanka national cricket team in 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/1115756.html |title=Ratnayake to head SL's fast-bowling programme|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=8 March 2017}}
Ratnayake was born in Colombo. During a career often blighted by injury, he was a strapping right arm fast-medium bowler who was capable of swinging the new ball and generating considerable pace and bounce. He spearheaded the Sri Lankan fast bowling attack in his heyday although his international career was relatively short due to being injury prone.
{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}He was also a more than useful hard-hitting lower order batsman, as Test match fifties against Pakistan and England testify. He is usually known for his appointments as interim coach of Sri Lanka national cricket teamusually in between permanent appointments.{{Cite web|title=Rumesh Ratnayake: The cricket coach for all seasons {{!}} Daily FT|url=https://www.ft.lk/sports/Rumesh-Ratnayake--The-cricket-coach-for-all-seasons/23-729495|access-date=2022-02-01|website=www.ft.lk|language=English}} He also works as fast bowling coach being attached to the High Performance Center of Sri Lanka Cricket on a full-time basis.
International career
One of Ratnayake's best performances came in the 1985/86 series against India, taking 20 wickets at 22 for the series. In the 2nd Test he managed 9 wickets in the match which gave Sri Lanka a rare Test win, and inaugural series victory. Other good hauls include 6 for 66 against Australia at Hobart in 1990/91 and 5 for 69 against England at Lord's. His bowling spell of 6/66 was instrumental in restricting Australia for 224.{{Cite web|title=Hobart's Test history: Gilchrist's stunner, Sangakkara's special and a New Zealand thriller|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/hobart-test-history-adam-gilchrist-stunner-kumar-sangakkara-special-and-a-new-zealand-thriller-1296233|access-date=2022-02-01|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}
After retirement
In July 2001, Ratnayake became the administrative team manager for the Sri Lankan national cricket team.[http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2001/jul/25ratna.htm Rediff.com] July 25th, 2001 Retrieved on June 17th, 2008
In 2003, Ratnayake was a development officer for the Asian Cricket Council[http://content-www.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/128958.html Monsoon Rains force Reschedule] Cricinfo.com, July 18th, 2003 Retrieved on June 17th, 2008 and was a coach and selector for the Asian Dream Team, a composite team of lesser Asian cricketing nations that played 6 matches in Sri Lanka that year.[http://chautari.wnso.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1406]Retrieved on June 17th, 2008
Ratnayake was in May 2007 linked with the Sri Lankan national cricket team assistant coaching job[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070520/Sports/sp213.html Rumesh to take over as assistant coach] Sunday Times newspaper (Sri Lanka) Sunday May 20th, 2007 Retrieved on June 17th, 2008 with some saying he had been given the interim coaching job.[http://www.southasiabiz.com/2007/05/rumesh_ratnayake_interim_coach.html Rumesh Ratnayake: Interim Coach of Sri Lanka] SouthAsiabiz.com, May 20th, 2007 Retrieved on June 17th, 2008 Ultimately it was the deputy's job that he was offered, and later declined in June 2007.:[http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20070701/sports.htm Whither the future, Marvan, Rumesh?] The Sunday Leader Vol. 14 Issue 2, July 1, 2007 Retrieved on June 17, 2008
He has also advised cricket hopefuls in Canada.[http://www.caledonenterprise.com/sports/article/50218 Ratnayake conducts camp] Caledon Enterprise newspaper (Ontario, Canada), June 5th, 2008 Retrieved on June 17th, 2008
In August 2011, he became the head coach of Sri Lankan national team.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-australia-2011/content/current/story/525792.html] Cricinfo.com, Aug 3rd, 2011 Retrieved on Aug 3rd, 2011 On 8 August 2017, after Champaka Ramanayake resigned, Ratnayake was again appointed as the fast bowling coach of the national team.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-vs-sri-lanka-2017/sri-lanka-appoint-rumesh-ratnayake-as-head-fast-bowling-coach/story-BxZ9n1r6hZ9rusVvYKy1jK.html |title=Rumesh Ratnayake to be Sri Lanka’s head fast bowling coach |publisher=Hindustan Times|access-date=8 March 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/96340/rumesh-ratnayake-to-head-sri-lanka-cricket-fast-bowling-program |title=Ratnayake to head SLC's fast bowling program |publisher=CricBuzz|access-date=8 March 2017}}
In January 2022, he was appointed as the interim coach of Sri Lankan side for the home bilateral ODI series against Zimbabwe in the absence of Mickey Arthur whose contract with the national side as head coach had expired on 4 December 2021.{{Cite web|title=Rumesh Ratnayake named Sri Lanka's interim coach for Zimbabwe series|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sl-vs-zim-rumesh-ratnayake-named-sri-lanka-s-interim-coach-for-zimbabwe-series-1295407|access-date=2022-02-01|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2022-01-04|title=Rumesh Ratnayake appointed interim coach of the National Team|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rumesh-ratnayake-appointed-interim-coach-of-the-national-team-7706389/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=The Indian Express|language=en}} He was persisted as the interim coach of Sri Lankan side for the five match T20I series against Australia in February 2021 and for the bilateral series against India in March 2021.{{Cite web|title=Heads keep rolling for head coach’s position|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/220116/sports/heads-keep-rolling-for-head-coachs-position-468995.html|access-date=2022-02-01|website=Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka}}{{Cite web|title=Rumesh Ratnayake Appointed Sri Lanka's Interim Coach For Australia Series {{!}} Cricket News|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/rumesh-ratnayake-appointed-sri-lankas-interim-coach-for-australia-series-2731207|access-date=2022-02-01|website=NDTVSports.com|language=en}} It has been revealed that the unprofessionalism and lackluster attitude of Sri Lanka cricket in finding the head coach after the departure of Mickey Arthur resulted in extended coaching gig for Ratnayake.He is the current head coach of the Sri Lankan women's cricket team{{Cite web|title=Unprofessionalism comes to haunt SLC {{!}} Daily FT|url=https://www.ft.lk/sports/Unprofessionalism-comes-to-haunt-SLC/23-729956|access-date=2022-02-01|website=www.ft.lk|language=English}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.island.lk/2010/01/14/features3.html Fiery Paceman Rumesh Ratnayake]
{{Sri Lanka Squad 1983 Cricket World Cup}}
{{Sri Lanka Squad 1987 Cricket World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ratnayake, Rumesh}}
Category:Sri Lanka Test cricketers
Category:Sri Lanka One Day International cricketers
Category:Sri Lankan cricketers
Category:Nondescripts Cricket Club cricketers
Category:Alumni of St. Peter's College, Colombo
Category:Cricketers at the 1983 Cricket World Cup
Category:Cricketers at the 1987 Cricket World Cup
Category:Sri Lankan cricket coaches
Category:Coaches of the Sri Lanka national cricket team