Mahela Jayawardene's data-driven perception is helping Avishka Fernando in finding balance at No. 4

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“He analyses now not most effective our workforce, however the oppositions’ weaknesses – he sees the sport in a singular means” – Shanaka on Jayawardene

Avishka Fernando has now not hit a T20I fifty in 21 innings. However within the final 4 suits – two observe video games towards an Oman aspect, and in Sri Lanka’s warm-ups towards Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea – he has made ratings of 83* off 59 balls, 33 off 18, 62* off 42, and 61 off 37.

Those have been most likely lower-intensity suits than common T20Is, however there was once additionally a positional alternate that Sri Lanka imagine allowed Fernando to run up those ratings. Despite the fact that he’s most often a most sensible 3 batter, he has now been moved right down to No. 4. Forward of Sri Lanka’s event opener towards Namibia, trainer Mickey Arthur printed that it was once a data-driven perception from Mahela Jayawardene – who’s Sri Lanka’s advisor for the primary spherical of the event – that had induced the alternate.

“Avishka may be very comfy at No. 4,” Arthur stated. “We had a bit of of a brainstorming consultation, and Mahela got here with a plan. He had a take a look at stats which he despatched directly to Dasun Shanaka and myself. It was once lovely transparent that No. 4 was once a excellent have compatibility for Avishka relating to the emblem of cricket we needed to play. Avishka will bat at No. 4 the next day, certainly.

“With Avishka, we all know that once 15 balls, he moves at 160. It was once simply getting Avishka to these 15 balls. Up entrance he simply places himself beneath slightly little bit of force relating to dot balls. So when he is are available in at No. 4, normally the sphere has been again, which has allowed him to rotate strike and were given him into the innings. Which will get him to the purpose the place as soon as he will get in, he is virtually unstoppable. We form of tinkered with it and attempted it, and contact wooden, it is labored thus far. Let’s hope that continues throughout the event.”

“One of the vital causes I used to be so excited to paintings with Mahela was once as a result of I labored with him a very long time in the past when he was once nonetheless taking part in, in franchise cricket, and I used to be struck by means of his talent to analyse the sport exceptionally neatly”

Mickey Arthur

Lengthy ahead of Jayawardene was once a extremely revered franchise trainer (having now were given a Hundred identify beneath his belt, along with 3 IPLs), he was once famend for his strategic nous as a participant and as a captain.

Each Arthur and present captain Shanaka lauded Jayawardene for the inputs thus far.

“We get numerous assist from him,” Shanaka stated. “He is were given numerous revel in. He analyses now not most effective our workforce, however the oppositions’ weaknesses. He sees the sport in a singular means. He is already contributed so much, and we are having a look ahead to getting extra from him throughout the event.”

Arthur had this so as to add: “Mahela’s contributed a large quantity. One of the vital causes I used to be so excited to paintings with Mahela was once as a result of I labored with him a very long time in the past when he was once nonetheless taking part in, in franchise cricket, and I used to be struck by means of his talent to analyse the sport exceptionally neatly. I believe his cricket mind is astounding. We now have had some excellent chats, and a few excellent debates.”

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf

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