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Neil McKenzie |
Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former South African batsman Neil McKenzie as the national team’s consultant coach for a short stint.
Accordingly, he will work with a group of Sri Lankan players who departed for South Africa yesterday to participate in a pre-series camp ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.
“McKenzie will bring in vital, in-depth insights about the South African conditions to help Sri Lankan players adapt to the challenge,” said Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva. The former South African batsman, who scored closer to 5,000 international runs for South Africa across formats, will work with the Sri Lankan players from November 13 to 21.
McKenzie made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2000 and scored his maiden ODI century (120*) against Sri Lanka at East London the same year.
The upcoming Test series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle for 2023–25, making it a crucial encounter for Sri Lanka to stay in the race for a place in the WTC final. The two Tests will be played from 27 November to 1 December at Kingsmead, Durban and from 5 to 9 December at St. Georges Park, Gqeberha.