‘He knows how to find talent’

Champaka Ramanayake’s contribution to Bangladesh’s fast-bowling department during his first tenure as bowling coach is still remembered by many, including ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

That time from 2008-2010 was when the Tigers’ pacers improved significantly and the 54-year-old was again appointed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board as head coach of the High Performance Unit in August 2017.

The former Sri Lankan pacer is currently in Sri Lanka as Bangladesh’s acting bowling coach after Courtney Walsh’s departure. He will go back to the High Performance Unit once Charl Langleveldt joins the team as a full-time bowling coach after the tour.

Ramanayake’s impact on Sri Lanka’s legendary pacer Lasith Malinga is widely known and it is why the 35-year-old did not forget to pay tribute to his mentor on his farewell game on Friday.

“Champaka is the main guy in my cricketing career because when he found me in 2001, he might have realised that I had something. My action was different but I have something and then he realised I have pace. Pace was very important at the time because we had Dilhara Fernando and so many pace bowlers during that period.

“He [Ramanayake] said that I had a unique action and that he was a coach and player in world cricket. He said he wanted to find a team for me. So, I went and he made way for me in a team and I got eight wickets. Then he decided to stop playing and start coaching. I can’t think of anyone else doing that. He is that kind of guy,” an emotional Malinga told reporters after his last ODI game, against Bangladesh, on Friday.

According to Malinga, Bangladesh are lucky to have someone like Ramanayake in their ranks.

“When he went to Bangladesh, I knew the Bangladeshi fast bowlers also really appreciated him and that the Bangladesh board also appreciated him. He has a talent: he knows how to finalise talent, he knows how to develop. I think we miss him but we can’t control that; Bangladesh guys are very lucky because he is there.”

However, it is not only the coach who can develop a fast bowler. The player also has a duty to get the most out of his coach and then execute on the field. Malinga can be such an example for the Bangladesh seamers, who again have the chance learn from someone like Ramanayake.

Malinga said that it took a lot of hard work and patience to become the Malinga of today and added that there is no way to become successful without having a desire to become the best.

Obviously, it was not solely Ramanayake’s contribution that took Malinga to his stratospheric levels although the partnership between the coach and player was key. It was also Malinga’s hard work and dedication.