Sri Lankan media slams coach Marsh

Sri Lanka's Australian cricket coach Geoff Marsh has drawn criticism after the team's loss to Pakistan in the recent Test and ODI series in the UAE with media reports here stating that he was more focussed on his son Shaun's progress in the Aussie team.

In a piece titled Geoff in Marshland in the Daily News and its sister Sinhalese language Dinamina, Marsh has been slammed after Sri Lanka's dismal showing against Pakistan in the recent Test series.

"Team sources said Marsh was not concerned to boost the morale of the team when Sri Lankan batsmen were returning to the dressing room in quick succession as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Instead he has been fully focussed on the first Test in Cape Town where Australia was shot out for 47," the report said.

Marsh took over the Sri Lankan job after his compatriot Trevor Bayliss left at the end of the World Cup in April.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports said the minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage held "an open" discussion with the senior members of the Sri Lanka team to take stock of the situation following the national team's recent disastrous run which includes three consecutive series losses against England, Australia and Pakistan.

"It was revealed that the main reason as to why the national cricket team failed to perform overseas was due to the miscommunication between the team, the selectors and the coaches," a release said.

Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews had taken part in the discussion and all senior players had pledged to extend full cooperation to Dilshan as captain.