John Wright was a possible candidate at first, but he ruled himself out as he was to take up coaching at the Australia’s Centre for Excellence in Brisbane. Now that he has pulled out of that appointment too, things might or might not change. Other interested candidates included Jamie Siddons, Dave Houghton, Greg Shipperd, Terry Oliver, Trevor Bayliss and Graham Ford.
Siddons is assistant coach of the Australian team and a senior coach at the Center for Excellence in Brisbane. Houghton, the former Zimbabwe captain, is presently coaching Derbyshire. Shipperd is the coach of Victoria while Oliver had success coaching Queensland. Baylisss made his mark as head coach of New South Wales and Ford who coaches Kent was a former coach of South Africa.
Sri Lanka was previously coached by four Australians, Dave Whatmore, John Dyson, Bruce Yardley and finally Tom Moody.
Sri Lanka has already interviewed the Queensland Cricket coach Terry Oliver who is said to be the forerunner for the post. New South Wales coach Trevor Bayliss is also to be interviewed on 14th June and according to Sri Lanka Cricket, the next coach will be announced soon.
The selected coach will sign a contract with the Sri Lanka Cricket for a year to coach the Sri Lanka team for an undisclosed but very lucrative salary.
Meanwhile there is speculation that Former South African Coach, now frontrunner in the race for Indian Coach, Graham Ford is ‘also’ in queue to be the new coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team. 
According to sources in Colombo, Ford has already been invited for interviews by the Cricket board. If Ford fails to find a place with India, he will probably head to Colombo for a fresh interview.
Graham Ford, Trevor Bayliss and Greg Shipperd are said to be interviewed within the next week or so.
The Sri Lankan Cricket board committee in charge of selecting their new coach comprise former cricketers including the board’s chief executive Duleep Mendis, former match winning all-rounder Aravinda De Silva, first test captain Bandula Warnapura, former team manager Michael Tissera and former captain Anura Tennakon.
Former coach Tom Moody finished his term with the Abu Dhabi tour turning down an offer for an extension of the contract due to family commitments in Western Australia. Acting-coach Trevor Penny’s two year contract will also end by August as he will leave for Perth to assist Moody.
The Asian team were struggling at 34-3 before Dilshan came to rescue in surpassing their opponents’ modest total of 109-8 with more than four overs to spare in the day-night game on a seamer-friendly pitch.
In reply the Africans collapsed at 6/77 and 7/87, but it was not all over for them. South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock then added 67 for the eighth wicket with Elton Chigumbura who made 40 in 37 balls, followed by a 103-run stand with No.10 batsmen Thomas Odoya before he fell for a well-made 39. Pollock’s innings was the most impressive. Smashing the Asian bowlers all around the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, he recorded his maiden century in only the fortieth over.
It didn’t stop there, he went on to make 130 off only 110 deliveries before being caught by Yousuf off Mortaza’s bowling as the Asians triumphed leading the series 1-0. His absolutely wonderful knock contained 19 fours and a six. It was undoubtedly Pollock at his best; despite his trying hard he could not take his side to victory. Mohammed Asif’s spell was just right from the beginning as he picked up 3 wickets in his 10 overs.
== Sri Lanka Cricket == 