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Ex-Sri Lanka skipper’s newfound passion in Melbourne’s north

Former Sri Lanka captain Shashikala Siriwardene's playing days have come to an end but a new calling for coaching the next generation of women's cricketers has emerged…

By Dylan Carmody · Cricket Australia

Published: Tuesday, 27 October 2026 at 7:35 PM

Key Things to Know

Former Sri Lanka captain Shashikala Siriwardene has taken on a full-time coaching role at Victoria's Plenty Valley Cricket Club.
This marks Siriwardene's first season exclusively as a coach after serving previously as a player-coach.
She is the only Sri Lankan woman to reach 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in ODIs.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Sri Lanka captain Shashikala Siriwardene has transitioned into a full-time coaching career, taking charge of the women's teams at Plenty Valley Cricket Club in Victoria, Australia. The move marks her first season purely as a coach without playing, focusing on player development and establishing a competitive team culture.

Siriwardene retired from international cricket following the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Melbourne before moving to Australia to expand her coaching expertise. She previously worked with Sri Lanka's Under-19 team and played for Wynnum-Manly and Box Hill Cricket Club, aiming to eventually coach at the Australian state or international level.

Read the full article on Cricket Australia

Ex-Sri Lanka skipper’s newfound passion in Melbourne’s north

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