Whatmore returns to Sri Lanka, this time to coach school team

by Rex Clementine 

This time Whatmore has been employed by S. Thomas’ College, Sri Lanka’s most prestigious school. © Getty

Sri Lanka’s cricket team has been coached by over a dozen foreign coaches including Sir Gary Sobers (1981-1983). But not even the greatest all-rounder of all time earns the admiration and attention of locals that Dav Whatmore gets. The World Cup winning coach, who had two stints with the Sri Lankan team from 1995-1997 and 1999-2003, has returned to Colombo again. This time he has been employed by S. Thomas’ College, Sri Lanka’s most prestigious school.

The short stint with S. Thomas’ College as Consultant will see Whatmore guiding the College’s under-19 cricketers in the lead up to the annual Big Match against bitter rivals Royal College.

Known simply as the Royal-Thomian and first played in 1879, the three-day encounter has been played every year since without a break. The game is affectionately known as the Battle of the Blues due to the colours of each school’s flag.

“It’s a huge honour to be involved in such a prestigious encounter. These school kids are learning the game and I am happy to help their progress,” Whatmore told Cricbuzz.

“The Warden of the College and the coaches have been nice and I have had great support. I am looking at developing these kids. It’s still a learning curve for them and understanding their skills and understanding the game. I try to expose them to things like how to react to certain situations in the game and stuff like that,” Whatmore added.

This year will be the 138th encounter of the Battle of the Blues and will be played next month at SSC.

Whatmore himself attended Royal College in Colombo before migrating to Australia in 1960s as a kid.As the game gets closer, could people make fun of him for joining the rival camp?”I don’t think so. Whether it’s S. Thomas’, Royal or Wesley, all what matters is helping younger talent to develop,” Whatmore remarked.

Whatmore, who first coached Sri Lanka in 1995 guided them to World Cup glory a year later and in 1997 joined English county Lancashire. He returned to Sri Lanka in 1999 and went onto complete a four year term. Since then, he has coached the national teams of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. He also had a spell at India’s National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.