Graham Ford appointed Sri Lanka coach

Graham Ford has been appointed coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team, with the triangular ODI series in Australia next month going to be his first assignment.

Ford, who coached South Africa for two years from 1999 to 2001 after taking over from the late Bob Woolmer, replaced Geoff Marsh, it was announced.

Ford's appointment is the latest move by SLC to revamp the set-up around the national team following a string of disappointing results.

The board had, on Monday, appointed Mahela Jayawardene as captain after Tillakaratne Dilshan stepped down, and last week, the selection panel was replaced before its term expired.

After his stint with the South African national team, Ford, who last week resigned as head coach of the Dolphins, moved to Kent as director of cricket in 2004, before returning home to take charge of the Durban-based franchise in 2006.

In June 2007, he was offered the challenge of coaching India but declined. In 2009, he withdrew his name from the shortlist of candidates for the England coaching job.
Under Marsh, Sri Lanka have lost three and won one of the five Tests they played. The only win, though, was their first ever in South Africa. They have also lost seven of the nine ODIs they have played.

Ford is the third coach to be appointed by the Lankan board since Trevor Bayliss stepped down after leading them to the 2011 World Cup final.

Marsh was appointed for two years in September, 2011 and was in charge for the series against Pakistan and South Africa.

Before the Australian was given the charge, Stuart Law, who was Bayliss' assistant, took over for the England tour before quitting to coach Bangladesh.

Rumesh Ratnayake then took over for the home series against Australia, before SLC zeroed in on Marsh.