Reports: Mahela Jayawardene to join England coaching staff

Mahela Jayawardena of Sri Lanka waves to the crowd after winning an ODI against England in December 2014

Mahela Jayawardene has been approached to join the England coaching staff in a consultancy role, according to reports. The England team management are keen on getting someone who can push the team to glory in the T20 World Cup next year, which will be played in the subcontinent – where Jayawardene has accumulated the majority of his runs.

Facilitating the arrangement is the fact that Jayawardene has previous acquaintance with coaches Paul Farbrace and Trevor Bayliss from their respective stints as Sri Lanka coach. Team Director Andrew Strauss is yet to agree a deal with the Sri Lanka legend however, as is also reported.

Over the next 18 months or so, England will play Pakistan in the UAE, tour India and Bangladesh, as well as host Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The 2016 World T20 is also in India.

An ECB spokesman confirmed that Jayawardene had been approached, also saying that his role was being seen as in a consulting capacity. The England management are also understood to be thinking of using Paul Collingwood in a consultancy role with a specific view to limited-overs cricket.

Jayawardene is seen as a legend in his native country, and there have already been rumblings which have emerged because of the foreign deal offered to him. However, a comment on a Sri Lankan website went like this:

“Hope he will accept it, if offered. Why not? He will get more money and the chance to live in a country with a very high standard of living. He will act as a NORMAL HUMAN BEING trying to provide a good life for the family and for himself. I feel that he is not going to sacrifice all the good things to stay in SL and be a HERO, who some of our fans consider him to be. He considered PLAYING for Sri Lanka as the ultimate honor but, after retirement the story is different.I wish MJ all the very best! Will Sangakkara be the next to take wings?”