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Unhappy with Hathurusingha, Sri Lanka Fielding Coach Steve Rixon likely to resign

Written by N Krishnamurthy

Unhappy with head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, Sri Lanka’s fielding coach Steve Rixon is mulling over to resign after team’s World Cup campaign came to an end on Saturday, Cricket Age reliably learns. Even though Rixon’s contract with Sri Lanka was only until world cup, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) rated his contribution highly and was on the opinion to retain him. However his dispute with Hathurusingha has Now put SLC in a dilemma.

Sri Lanka won three, lost four matches at the World Cup, with two abandoned due to rain.

However, during the World Cup campaign, Rixon working rapport with Hathurusingha hit rock bottom, that forced him to consider about resigning from his post.

“Yes, Mr. Steve Rixon has given a hint to the board that he is not happy with Hathurasingha’s approach as national team head coach and it has increasingly becoming impossible for him to work in this scenario” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.

However, at the same time, SLC seems highly impressed with Rixon tenure with Sri Lanka team, that resulted a big improvement in the fielding, especially during the World Cup.

“Mr. Rixon has done a tremendous job as fielding Coach of the team. After his arrival, the fielding of the team has improved by leaps and bounds and it’s very unfortunate that Mr. Hathurusingha could not establish a good working rapport with him” the SLC official added further.

In December last year, Rixon, the former Australian wicket-keeper, was appointed as the fielding coach of Sri Lanka.

Rixon, who featured in 13 Tests and 6 ODIs for Australia, had worked as the Pakistan fielding coach for two years from 2016 to 2018 and has been considered as one of the most respected coach in world cricket.

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N Krishnamurthy