Tara Murray
Melton has looked overseas for its new coach for the upcoming Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
The Lions announced on Wednesday night that it had appointed Tharaka Gunaratna as coach for the 2022-23 season.
The Sri Lankan comes to the club with a wealth of coaching and playing experience.
He is a level 2 accredited England Cricket Board coach and has had eight years of playing and coaching experience in Yorkshire and Colombo.
He is currently working with Western Province Cricket Association as a district development coach.
Lions president Anthony Gale said they were excited to lock in their coaching set up.
“We’ve got a young group and we need a bit of cricket knowledge,” he said.
“We managed to get him through a contact. Duncan Harrison had a few contacts and it went from there.
“He should be a good fit.”
Gale said it was the first time that Gunaratna had coached in Australia and would arrive in the country in mid-August.
He said Gunaratna had an idea of the standard of the competition, with a number of internationals now playing in the competition.
“It’s exciting for him as well,” he said. “He will develop his own coaching repertoire. He will add his own touches.
“It’s pretty strong competition and we know what we want to try and achieve with our group. We’ve focused on continuing to develop the young talent.”
Mitch Stephens and Joel Mitchener are also part of the coaching group and are keen to get things going.
Stephens was one of two signings announced by the Lions earlier in the pre-season.
He returns to the club having spent the last 10 years playing premier cricket at Footscray and Essendon. He played second XI cricket at both clubs.
Former captain Ben MacRae also returns after not playing the last two years.
Gale said they were hoping to add one or two more players before the season.
“Hopefully we can add one or two more experienced players before we are done.
“It was a tough year on and off the field. We’re getting back to doing well on the field.”
