Our skills are no longer where they were two months ago: Sri Lanka’s head coach

Sri Lanka walked into the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the dark horses, but they have been by far the poorest team in the competition until now. Not only have they lost three of their games, but they have struggled massively to live up to their hype in the competition. 

After an 82-run loss against India in their third clash, Sri Lanka's head coach, Rumesh Ratnayake, did not mince words, stating that the team’s ‘skills’ are no longer where they were two months ago. 

“Yes, I think there are a few places where we have made mistakes. Not just once; I think our skills are no longer where they were two months ago. It's not there anymore. It's not there where we wanted it. Losing three matches was not what we expected,” he said in the post-match press conference. 

“We came to the World Cup to win. I think you were asking me the same from match to match and that was the answer I gave. So, we took a match after a match, but we didn't have the skills when we wanted it. So that process, we call it a process, it wasn't enough where we wanted it,” he added. 

Ahead of the India clash, there were hopes that Sri Lanka could finally put on a complete performance, but it turned out to be a rather disastrous night for them. Their strong bowling unit conceded 172, and then the batters could not put runs on board, scoring just 80. 

Ratnayake added that the team has been playing ‘poor cricket’, which has led to their decline. 

“Yeah, hard luck is not what we believe in, but I think it was bad playing throughout this tournament. We have been playing poor cricket, I would say, and that is not acceptable. We have been talking about it, trying to come out of it, trying various things, fearlessly and freely doing things, and well, I think the skill has failed us when it has been really needed,” he added. 

Sri Lanka now have one final game in this tournament, against New Zealand, and a win there could really throw a spanner in the White Ferns’ works. 

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