SLC appoints Craig Howard as new National Spin Bowling Coach

Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former Australian first-class cricketer Craig Howard as the new national spin bowling coach.

Howard replaces former Sri Lanka spinner Piyal Wijetunge who currently holds that position.

Howard was the spin bowling coach of the New Zealand White Ferns team and the Victorian Men’s first-class team before taking over the new role.

He will assume the duties of the national team, starting with the ODI series of the ongoing Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka.

A Qualified Level 3 cricket coach from Cricket Australia, Howard has held a 12-year stint as consultant coach of Cricket Australia.

As Cricket Australia’s consultant coach, he has worked on CA’s spin weeks, head of spin bowling for pathways, and national teams. He has also functioned as the assistant coach on tours for the Australia ‘A’, Cricket Australia XI and Under-19 teams across the men’s and women’s systems.

Howard has also worked as the spin bowling coach for the South Australian Redbacks and Adelaide Strikers during a four-year period, spanning from 2011 to 2015.He is assigned a two-year contract, which commenced on 1 February 2024.