Sri Lanka women’s cricket may be entering a new tactical era, but one constant remains firmly in place, captain Chamari Athapaththu is not stepping away anytime soon. As the team gears up for a crucial phase in international cricket, newly appointed head coach Jamie Siddons has made it clear that the veteran all-rounder is still central to Sri Lanka’s plans for the future.
At 36 and in her 16th year of international cricket, Athapaththu continues to defy expectations with her performances and leadership. Speculation around her retirement has lingered, particularly after the 2025 ODI World Cup in India, but Siddons’ recent remarks have firmly shifted that narrative. Instead of winding down, the Sri Lankan skipper appears motivated by a renewed vision and the opportunity to guide a transitioning side.
“Chamari, I’ve had a great chat with her. She is keen to play for a lot longer than one or two more years,” Siddons said, adding that if she maintains her current fitness levels and “keeps working on that hard,” there is no reason she cannot continue to dominate international cricket.
Her continued presence is a major boost for Sri Lanka, especially with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England approaching. Athapaththu has already shown strong form in the lead-up, playing a key role in Sri Lanka’s recent ODI and T20I series victories over the West Indies. Her ability to influence matches with both bat and ball remains unmatched within the squad.
“In the last two practice matches, she’s dominated the games. She can keep going for a lot longer,” Siddons said.
Beyond her on-field impact, Athapaththu’s leadership is also seen as vital for nurturing the next generation. Sri Lanka are in a rebuilding phase, and Siddons believes having an experienced figure at the helm allows young players to grow without the immediate pressure of filling a leadership void.
“That’s exactly why I’m here, I think,” he said, when asked about planning for life after Athapaththu. “To put together some plans where we can bring players in, teach them how the game is played. I’ve seen two very exciting young fast bowlers who are as good as anyone going around. They’ll be up for the fight.”
Siddons, who officially began his tenure on March 16, brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked with the Australian men’s team and participated in multiple World Cup campaigns. His exposure to elite-level cricket has shaped a clear and ambitious vision for Sri Lanka women’s cricket, one that prioritises aggression, adaptability, and modern T20 strategies.
“I’m an international cricket coach first and foremost,” Siddons said about coaching a women’s team. “My knowledge of the explosiveness required to win games – especially in T20s – will pass down to the girls’ format with ease. I’ve worked with the likes of Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr, I know what the standard looks like.”
A major focus of Siddons’ approach is transforming the team’s batting mindset. He has identified a key gap in Sri Lanka’s inability to consistently outscore top teams in terms of boundaries, a critical factor in modern limited-overs cricket.
“We win in singles and twos, but we don’t score more boundaries than the opposition, and that’s why we lose against the best teams,” Siddons said. “We can’t be safe. Our aim is to hit the ball harder and find the gaps. We have the hitters at the top, but the middle overs are where we must improve. I think from the bowling perspective, we need to have some tricks.
We can’t just turn up and bowl offspin, we need to have some different types of balls that we can bowl. Every fast bowler needs to have several slower balls so they can show those tricks, so the batters can’t just line us up. The best teams in the world hit a lot of boundaries, we need to minimise those boundaries.”
Sri Lanka’s immediate assignment will be an away tour of Bangladesh, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. It will serve as an important testing ground for Siddons’ new philosophy ahead of the global tournament. The T20 World Cup itself presents a stern challenge, with Sri Lanka set to face hosts England, New Zealand, and the West Indies in the group stage.
With Athapaththu leading from the front and a new aggressive blueprint in place, Sri Lanka women’s cricket appears ready to embrace change, without losing sight of the experience that has carried them this far.
(Quotes sourced from ESPN)
