COLOMBO, May 27: Rumesh Ratnayake, the former Sri Lanka fast bowler, has agreed to succeed Trevor Penney as Sri Lanka's assistant coach once Penney's contract expires at the end of August. Sri Lanka Cricket was planning to get Ratnayake roped in for next month's home series against Bangladesh, but his commitments with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) as a developing officer won't see him relieved off his duties until August end.

As a result, Penney will take over as coach for the Bangladesh series from Tom Moody who finishes his contract with Sri Lanka Cricket at the end of May.

Moody is undertaking a coaching job with Western Australia where he can be close to his family and Penney is due to join him in September.

Ratnayake is due to sign a four-year contract starting in September 2007.

This is the first time any coach assigned to the national team is going to be signed for such a long period of time. The maximum has been for a period of three years.

“Tom has set such high standards that I am delighted to except the challenge of assisting the national team,” Ratnayake said.

Prior to working with the ACC, Ratnayake successfully headed Sri Lanka Cricket's fast bowling academy. He is a qualified Level 4 (English) and Level 2 (Australian) coach.

In 23 Tests Ratnayake took 73 wickets at 35.10 and was a more than useful tailender making two fifties in Tests.

His most memorable performance was bowling Sri Lanka to their maiden Test victory at Colombo in 1985 by capturing nine Indian wickets for 125 runs.

He also took 76 wickets from 70 ODIs and figured in the 1983 and 1987 World Cups.—Agencies