Baseballer hired to coach cricketers
By Bipin DaniClose on the heels of Indian board sacking its fielding coach, Sri Lanka has actually gone ahead and appointed one. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has zeroed in on Gavin Fingleson as its fielding coach.
The 33-year-old former Olympic silver medalist baseball player was recommended by the coach Trevor Bayliss to the Lankan board. Fingleson has played professional baseball in the US and Taiwan for nine years.
Fingleson was born in August 1976 in Johannesburg, South Africa but his family immigrated to Australia in 1987. He played most sports growing up but showed particular interest and skills in Soccer and Baseball - the latter proving to be his sport of choice and where he chose to concentrate his efforts. Interestingly, Fingleson has played club level cricket.
Currently associated with New South Wales team, Gavin Fingleson said, “I will try and utilise my baseball skills while working with the Lankans. Pick-up, sliding and throwing are a few common elements in both baseball and cricket and there I should be able to give some crucial inputs to the Lankan players.”
Gavin Fingleson will be arriving in Sri Lanka shortly for a five-day visit to meet officials of the Lankan board. “I am reaching Colombo shortly and will discuss the nature of my work with the board and the number of trips I have to make to this Island Nation for coaching assignments.
"I will try and prepare a good fielding side by the time the 2011 World Cup comes knocking,” he said.
By Bipin DaniClose on the heels of Indian board sacking its fielding coach, Sri Lanka has actually gone ahead and appointed one. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has zeroed in on Gavin Fingleson as its fielding coach.
The 33-year-old former Olympic silver medalist baseball player was recommended by the coach Trevor Bayliss to the Lankan board. Fingleson has played professional baseball in the US and Taiwan for nine years.
Fingleson was born in August 1976 in Johannesburg, South Africa but his family immigrated to Australia in 1987. He played most sports growing up but showed particular interest and skills in Soccer and Baseball - the latter proving to be his sport of choice and where he chose to concentrate his efforts. Interestingly, Fingleson has played club level cricket.
Currently associated with New South Wales team, Gavin Fingleson said, “I will try and utilise my baseball skills while working with the Lankans. Pick-up, sliding and throwing are a few common elements in both baseball and cricket and there I should be able to give some crucial inputs to the Lankan players.”
Gavin Fingleson will be arriving in Sri Lanka shortly for a five-day visit to meet officials of the Lankan board. “I am reaching Colombo shortly and will discuss the nature of my work with the board and the number of trips I have to make to this Island Nation for coaching assignments.
"I will try and prepare a good fielding side by the time the 2011 World Cup comes knocking,” he said.
