Tara Murray
Janaka Deegodagamage is hoping to share his coaching knowledge and experiences to take Plenty Valley to the next level in the Victorian Premier Cricket Women’s competition.
The Bats have played finals the last two seasons, but have been unable to break through for that win.
Deegodagamage replaces Adam Drinkwell, who stood down from the role having made massive inroads at the club.
Deegodagamage who has an extensive coaching background having come across Sri Lanka, said he was looking forward to a new challenge.
“I did my level two coaching in about 2005 at the MCG… And then the ICC Global level three coaching in 2006,” he said.
“I was a high performance level coach in Sri Lanka and worked under Trevor Bayliss.
I migrated out to Australia a few years ago. People didn’t know me and I was given a link to a sub-district club, Taylors Lakes and have been working with them the last two years.
“I thought with my credentials that I wanted to go a bit further and look at a premier club.
“I live in Bundoora, so Plenty Valley is close by.”
While Deegodagamage has never coached a women’s side, he worked with some of Sri Lanka’s top female players at the high performance centre and done a lot of development coaching with both boys and girls.
COVID-19 has meant that despite being appointed in May, Deegodagamage is yet to meet the playing group.
“I haven’t seen the girls, but I’ve spoken to them over the phone.
“I can already see a little bit of the culture and that sort of thing. I’ve heard they’re extremely talented.
“The likes of Sophie Reid and Sophie Day and some young talent like Grace Jones and Jasmine Nevins.
“We’ve done a couple of web sessions and zoom meetings and I’ve given them a bit of homework.”
Deegodagamage is hoping to bring some of his coaching knowledge to the Bats to help them take that next step.
He said he would look to implement a lot of game-like scenarios at training and try to get out on the centre wicket as much as possible.
The group is keen on breaking through for a finals win.
“Adam did a great job with the team and we have to continue the good work he did,” he said.
“Finals is a little hurdle and winning is a habit.
“Finals are a different game and you have to be mentally tough and know the situation and try to play our normal game.
“I think we can get past that hurdle.”
The Bats are scheduled to play their first match on November 22.
