What's new

Steve Rixon's tenure as Sri Lanka’s fielding coach comes to an end [Post #31]

Slog

Slog

Senior Test Player
Joined
Feb 15, 2015
Runs
28,984
Post of the Week
1
Leaves his post today

Fielding definitely improved a lot under him
 
I wouldn't be wrong in saying he has been our best fielding coach to date. His successor has big boots to fill.
 
I wonder what was the secret behind him being a successful fielding coach for us compared to someone like Julian Fountain?
 
Good job by Steve but our improvement in fielding is a complete management effort, not just his. If there was no cultural change, it wouldn't have mattered regardless of Steve's excellence.
 
He has done a superb job.

He took no nonsense off the players and made them work hard - it didn't matter if you were a senior or junior, you were made to work.
 
Working with Mickey Steve did an amazing job, the fielding has never been better.

Thanks Steve, all the best for the future.
 
He did a good job. Wish we could have kept him.

Thanks for everything Steve.
 
Good job is an understatement, he has done a better job than could have been expected of him. Lets just hope all his hard work does not go wasted and the next coach and players can maintain the high levels and standards of fielding the team are currently operating at.
 
Crucial time to loose him in the year running up to the WC, hope we do not drop our standards by then. We was saving a good amount of runs in the field in the champions trophy.
 
I wonder if some routine methods are shared from previous coach to next, esp. in terms of fielding. Why break if something is not broken.
 
hold on,

julian fountain
and grant luden were also priased
 
Good job but why do people think it’s one person who changes everything lol. It was him and Mickey + management’s no slacking policy.
 
Thanks for everything. Should improve our fielding in the long term, hopefully he can leave a legacy and has changed the fielding culture in the current team.
 
Pak is definitely among the best catching sides in the world. Some work is needed to be done for a quicker arm release, especially in the deep. I have observed that we are not as fluid in picking the ball up and releasing it quick with accuracy to be a top fielding side. However, we have made a HUGE progress Vs what we used to be barring a few good fielders in the past.

Kudos to the coaching staff for making us one of the best catching sides and a pretty good overall fielding side. Hopefully we will catch up to the better fielding sides soon.
 
Had a hunch Rixon would do wonders with Pakistan. He left a lasting legacy of excellent fielding with the NZ side as well.
 
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced the appointment of Steve Rixon as the national team’s fielding coach.

The former Australian Cricketer, who has coaching experience behind him, will join with the National team, currently in New Zealand; starting from 24th December. 2018.

“We are happy to welcome Steve into the team. I am sure; he will be able to help the team moving forward, with his expertise in the area of fielding; which is a vital component of the game” said Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Rixon will work with the national team, until the end of the 2019 World Cup.

In the meantime, Manoj Abeywickrema; the current fielding coach of the Sri Lanka team, will be drafted into the High Performance Center to work with the Development Squads.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/steve-rixon-appointed-as-sri-lankas-fielding-coach-775321
 
Sri Lankan fielding is below par at the moment – Steve Rixon

In his first interview since being appointed as Sri Lanka’s Fielding Coach two days ago, Steve Rixon admitted that he will have lot of work to do with the national cricket team in a bid to raise the fielding standards. Tagged the worst fielding team in the world, Sri Lanka have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory due to their poor fielding on several instances. Rixon, who has worked with three international teams before was confident that he will be able to fix the problem.

"I watch a lot of cricket. Sri Lanka’s fielding is very below par at the moment. I would probably say that they are similar to what Pakistan were when I started. We put in quite a lot of hard work with Pakistan and things started changing and they are a competitive fielding side again. The Sri Lankan side has lot of work to do and with commitment we can make things happen," Rixon told The Island.

Rixon was in line to take up as Sri Lanka’s Head Coach on several instances but the deal didn’t go through.

"When they approached me this time, I felt that I still had some juice in the tank and some energy left for an international assignment. Ironically, Sri Lanka had asked me on five different occasions to get involved and do some work. But I had to decline as either I had some contract or there were financial issues. I am happy to get involved with the team and let’s see how it goes. SLC wanted a longer period of commitment, but I said let’s first take it for seven months and then see how it goes."

Rixon, the former New South Wales and Australia wicketkeeper, has been a career coach since he quit playing. In a coaching career spanning for three decades, he has been the Head Coach of New Zealand, New South Wales and Surrey. He has also had a stint with the Australian team as Assistant Coach apart from the Pakistani job.

It was his recent assignment with Pakistan that made people take note. Traditionally not one of the best fielding sides in the world, when Mickey Arthur was appointed as Head Coach of Pakistan one of the first thing he did was to hire Rixon as Fielding Coach. Fielding was one reason why Pakistan went onto win the Champions Trophy last year beating arch-rivals India in London. Pakistan are also world’s number one ranked team in T-20 cricket.

Asked whether less skilful players could become good fielders, Rixon said that fielding excellence depended on the commitment.

"If you are prepared to do the hard work, you will become better. No question about that. Not everyone is athletic. If you do the basic stuff right, you can become a good fielder. That is my philosophy."

One main reason why Sri Lanka has done so poorly in shorter formats of the game is because they are carrying too many poor fielders in the playing eleven. Opposition teams well armed with information about the slow fielders in the side do not hesitate to take chances with the sloppy Sri Lankans.

"To be honest, in modern day cricket there’s nowhere to hide for players who are not good fielders. It becomes a selection issue as well. If there are two players with similar skill levels, one who is the better fielder I am sure will get the nod."

"The players have to be committed to do what the coaches are expecting of them. What worked for us in Pakistan was that we identified that fitness and fielding were two areas where we were so poor. So we put in a huge amount of effort and the results were there to be seen. Whoever who came into the side realized that we give lot of prominence to fielding and that they had to work hard at it," Rixon went onto say.

The Australian will head to New Zealand on the eve of Christmas to join the Sri Lankan team ahead of the second Test in Christchurch that gets underway on Boxing Day.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=195876
 
Sherlock said:
At least he might just get paid on time.

Good luck, Rixy.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't count on him encountering problems with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board whose financial situation is even far dire than the PCB's which is shocking given that they are able to play consistent international cricket at home, have hosted the 2011 WC at home, have had plenty of home series with India but they are still unable to take on the challenge of hosting a Sri Lankan T-20 league.

The PCB in comparison inspite of all the problems and roadblocks has hosted the PSL 3 seasons in a row, the 4th season is on track and any roadblocks are being managed.
 
Very true, SL made money because of Indians, Pakistanis and arab world watching them. There is a reason why SL players make more than Bangladesh players despite Bangladeshi local market being much bigger. Non sri lankans actually liked watching Jayasuriya, Murali, Sangakkara, Mahela and Malinga. Just watch how twitter explodes among Indians when Malinga bowl vs UAE lol. With this current butch, no one cares, they know this SL team isn't worth watching. They don't even put up fights anymore. Not sure why Sony would pay the amount they are paying now down the road.
 
Sherlock said:
At least he might just get paid on time.

Good luck, Rixy.
Click to expand...

He'll get paid on time for sure. Delay in payment doesn't happen from poverty - even Sierra Leon Soccer Federation is paying their English Coach.
 
Steve Rixon value is not limited to fielding , he is good enough to be head coach.

PCB made a blunder by letting him go .
 
Justcrazy said:
Steve Rixon value is not limited to fielding , he is good enough to be head coach.

PCB made a blunder by letting him go .
Click to expand...

PCB didn't let him go, he left on his own accord. I am not sure if his greivances are completely genuine because the rest of the other foreign staff seems to be happily working at the NCA, Grant Flower has been working for 4 plus years, Mickey Arthur has been working for 2 plus years and the physios, trainers are working fine.

Sure the PCB is not the perfect organization and there is plenty of improvement to be done, but there are some individuals on this planet who make a big deal out of minor issues and blow a fit. Rixon apparently was also unhappy with the quality of the internet connection at the NCA and the facilities. I am pretty sure the PCB eventually also told him that he is free to leave and work else where if he doesn't like it here because the other foreign staff doesn't seem to be throwing a huge fit so who the heck are you?
 
Results down since he left..

well, worse than even before
 
Savak said:
PCB didn't let him go, he left on his own accord. I am not sure if his greivances are completely genuine because the rest of the other foreign staff seems to be happily working at the NCA, Grant Flower has been working for 4 plus years, Mickey Arthur has been working for 2 plus years and the physios, trainers are working fine.

Sure the PCB is not the perfect organization and there is plenty of improvement to be done, but there are some individuals on this planet who make a big deal out of minor issues and blow a fit. Rixon apparently was also unhappy with the quality of the internet connection at the NCA and the facilities. I am pretty sure the PCB eventually also told him that he is free to leave and work else where if he doesn't like it here because the other foreign staff doesn't seem to be throwing a huge fit so who the heck are you?
Click to expand...

I heard he was not paid on time , it was delayed.
 
By Bipin Dani

Australian fielding coach Steve Rixon is not returning to coach Sri Lankans. This was confirmed by Rixon himself.

The 65-year-old former Australian wicket-keeper batsman has returned to Sydney (via Malaysia Airlines) from Colombo (he traveled from England to Sri Lanka with the team after team exit from the World Cup).

Speaking exclusively over telephone, he said, "I am definitely not joining".

"There are certain reasons", he said without elaborating much.

"I have been on coaching for quite some time and need break. Not joining any other national team or the Leagues", he, however, further added.

Rixon's appointment was till the World Cup and is not seeking extension.

Manoj Abeywickrama, who was also in England with the other extra players and was assisting Rixon, may be asked to continue for the home series against Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka's batting coach, Jon Lewis, whose contract was also till the World Cup is unlikely to return.

In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket is likely to restrict A division cricket to ten teams, instead of 14.

"To keep competition tough, this will be done", the sports minister Harin Fernando explained.

"Will also withdraw the premier status for all 24 clubs. Only top ten will get and bottom 14 teams will need to compete to come on top. Every two years these clubs will go down and two other will come on top", the sports minister, signed off.
 
Rixon buddy...you can write your own contract. Please come home.
 
Rixon really made a difference and it was sad that he left on such bad terms.

But the reality is that if you aren't getting paid on time then that's not good enough.
 
International coaching seems like musical chairs. Why is there such a shortage of quality coaches?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

MenInG
Azhar Mahmood appointed acting red-ball Head Coach
Replies
78
Views
2K
Major
M
BouncerGuy
  • Poll Poll
PCB appoints Mike Hesson as the new Whiteball Head Coach of Pakistan Cricket team, Aaqib Javed appointed Director of High-Performance
2
Replies
95
Views
7K
Savak
Savak
BouncerGuy
Aaqib Javed's association with Lahore Qalandars comes to an end
Replies
5
Views
34K
RedwoodOriginal
RedwoodOriginal
FearlessRoar
Gary Kirsten steps down as Pakistan's white-ball team coach [Post Updated #17]
2 3 4
Replies
248
Views
11K
Rana
Rana
M
Why is Azhar Mahmood as assistant coach not criticized?
Replies
48
Views
2K
Major
M
Back
Top