Coaching Sri lanka Team was ‘most satisfying’ says Dav Whatmore

Davenell Whatmore

Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup under Dav Whatmore   

By BIPIN DANI

Veteran coach Davenell Whatmore yesterday revealed that his stint with the Sri Lankan Team in 1996 gave him the ‘most amount of satisfaction’.

“I enjoyed most working with the Sri Lankan players. Not only because the team won the World Cup (in 1996) but it is also my homeland too,” he said without any hesitation from Melbourne, Australia. 

Whatmore was born in Sri Lanka and was educated at Royal College, Colombo before he emigrated to Australia in 1962 as a nine year old.   

 
Whatmore coached Sri Lanka in two separate spells. “It was a successful stint from 1999 to 2003 as well,” he said. 

Incidentally, last year too, Whatmore was close to be associated with the Sri Lankan players once again. 
This was revealed by former Sri Lanka player Asanka Gurusinha during a live chat show with ex-cricketer and former Manager Charith Senanayake, who had also invited Whatmore for the show. 

“We discussed about Whatmore’s humble beginning, transition from a District Coach to National level, his role with the Sri Lanka World Cup winning Team in 1996 and how he motivated the players then.” 

“He also compared the players’ level of fitness now and then,” Senanayake confirmed yesterday. 

The 66-year-old Whatmore, who played seven Tests and one ODI for Australia will be joining the Baroda Team as Head Coach once the COVID-19 pandemic is eliminated.   

Whatmore had also coached Bangladesh, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Kolkata Knight Riders and Kerala during his illustrious career.