Jayasuriya’s calm vs Bangladesh’s coaching void

There are probably very few in the cricketing world who have demonstrated adaptability like Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya.

From starting his career as a left-arm spinner to becoming one of the torchbearers of modern-day explosive openers, Jayasuriya's career has been exemplary for many cricketers.

Now the head coach of the Sri Lanka national team, the 56-year-old has carried this same trait of adaptability into his coaching career.

As a player, Jayasuriya's batting always meant chaos for the opposition. He was a pioneer in exploiting the Powerplay in ODIs.

As aggressive as he was with the bat, as a coach, he is said to be equally calm and measured. He prefers to work with careful planning, embodying a father-figure role that instills a fearless mindset in the dressing room. At least, that is the impression one gets from the body language of the Sri Lankan players.

Kamil Mishara, who played a match-winning 46 off 32 balls against Bangladesh in their Asia Cup Group B game in Abu Dhabi earlier this week, said Jayasuriya's arrival has given the players more freedom and changed the atmosphere in the team.

"He always remains calm. He tells us to play our natural game, to trust in our abilities. He has changed the environment a lot, given us complete freedom. We feel very comfortable in the dressing room under him. He has brought in a good feeling and vibe," Mishara said.

When you look for this trait of adaptability among Bangladesh's local coaches, only a void can be found. Take the case of the Tigers' current senior assistant coach, Mohammad Salahuddin, who is well-regarded in domestic cricket but has yet to make a strong impact at the national level.

Bangladesh's persistent batting woes remain unresolved, even under the man who has long been a go-to mentor for stars like Shakib Al Hasan.

The Tigers' batting struggles were visible in the ongoing Asia Cup as well. For instance, even when the top order fired in their latest game against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, the middle order failed to push on. After reaching 87 for one in the first 10 overs, Bangladesh could only post 154. They won the game, but just by a narrow margin of eight runs.

That is precisely where Salahuddin's expertise was expected to come through, 10 months into his role as the senior assistant coach.

Among local Bangladeshi coaches, Salahuddin is one of the very few -- alongside Khaled Mahmud Sujon and Sarwar Imran -- to have been entrusted with top coaching roles for the Tigers over the years.

However, none have been able to make a significant impact, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) largely preferring foreign coaches for the national side.

On the contrary, many former Sri Lankan players have left their mark globally in coaching roles. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are highly sought-after, while Chandika Hathurusingha brought notable success to Bangladesh as head coach.

Sri Lanka's current batting coach, Thilina Kandamby, believes having a local coach is an advantage for South Asian players because of linguistic and cultural understanding.

"Look, the Indian team has been succeeding with their own coaches for years. With a local coach, you can connect more easily with the language and mindset of the youngsters," Kandamby said.

But when there is no one of sufficiently high standard locally, the only option is to look elsewhere -- something the BCB has relied on for many years.

Even after 25 years of Test status, Bangladesh has yet to produce a coach of genuine international standard. Among ex-players, the inclination to reach this level remains rare. For those who do show interest, questions persist about their competence.

Many former Bangladeshi cricketers have shown more interest in administration or politics than in coaching. Of the "Fantastic Five" -- the five star players from Bangladesh's earlier era -- only Mahmudullah Riyad has shown an interest in pursuing coaching. He recently completed a BCB-organised Level-Three coaching course. How far he will go down this path remains to be seen.

In a developed cricket culture, world-class coaches are just as vital as world-class players. While Bangladesh can compete with Sri Lanka on the field, in terms of cricketing knowledge, they remain some way behind.