Sri Lanka hint at persisting with Dyson

John Dyson's long-term future as Sri Lanka's coach remains uncertain, but the cricket board has indicated a willingness to offer him a fresh contract. Dyson and the board are expected to sit down for contractual discussions before the team's departure to New Zealand later this month.

There has been lingering confusion over Dyson's future since the end of the year. Leaks to the media from high sources in Sri Lanka Cricket's executive committee first indicated an unhappiness with his performance and a possible search for alternatives. Then came an announcement a few weeks later that a new contract would be offered.

Dyson's contract was due to expire at the end of March 2005, after the previously scheduled Pakistan tour which was shifted forward after the Zimbabwe player crisis, but he has returned to Sri Lanka for the start of national team's training, and agreed to look after the team in New Zealand during April.

"I am looking forward to the New Zealand tour now," Dyson told reporters on Friday night. "It's going to be difficult playing there at that time of year and the boys are going to have to dig very deep and be at their very best - hopefully Australia will trounce New Zealand and make it a bit easier for us!

"At this stage I am still in discussions with the cricket board about my contract and I hope to have talks with them in the next couple of weeks before New Zealand to clarify a few matters. Before the end of that tour I hope we will know exactly what is happening.

"From a personal point of view, I've really enjoyed my time with the team thus far and I think the results have been pretty good. But there are a lot of things to consider, including family issues, which are very important for me and need to be addressed."

Mohan de Silva, the president of Sri Lanka Cricket, meanwhile, told the The Island newspaper on Thursday that "in all probability he [Dyson] will be offered a fresh contract for up to a year although no final decision has been made". de Silva denied rumours of a pay cut, but suggested that any fresh contract would include a "win bonus system".

Dyson was a surprise appointment straight after the 2003 World Cup, and was not Sri Lanka's first-choice candidate. But although some players were initially wary of his lack of coaching experience, they appeared to warm to his style during the course of 2004, a year in which they climbed up the ICC's Test and ODI tables.

However, despite Sri Lanka's success on the field, there have been murmurings of discontent emerging from the board's committee-room. But this is not new: Dav Whatmore spent nearly six successful years coaching the national team over two stints, and there wa almost always division in the committee-room over his performance and future.

In recent weeks the rumour mill has been working overtime, with several high-profile names discussed in the cricket community and media as possible alternatives, including Steve Waugh, John Buchanan, Geoff Marsh, Tom Moody, Gus Logie and Peter Moores. Some Sri Lankan names have also been tossed around, including Rumesh Ratnayake and Roy Dias.