Jamie Siddons Appointed Sri Lanka Women’s Head Coach

Sri Lanka appoint Jamie Siddons as women’s head coach, succeeding Rumesh Ratnayake after his impactful tenure.

Sri Lanka Cricket has officially named former Australian cricketer Jamie Siddons as the new head coach of the Sri Lanka women’s national team. The Level 3 qualified coach will begin his one-year tenure from March 16, 2026, replacing former coach Rumesh Ratnayake.

Siddons arrives at a crucial time for Sri Lanka as the team prepares for major international assignments, including the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled to be held in England later this year.

Ratnayake concluded his tenure quietly at the end of 2025 after guiding the team through a period of significant progress. When he was appointed in February 2023, Sri Lanka Women were struggling near the bottom of international rankings, but his leadership helped transform them into a competitive side.

During his tenure, Sri Lanka achieved one of their biggest milestones by winning the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, where they defeated India Women’s National Cricket Team in the final to secure their first-ever continental title.

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Despite these achievements, inconsistency remained an issue. The team endured a difficult campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, exiting in the group stage without registering a win. Their performance at the home 50-over World Cup in October also suggested that the side had reached a plateau.

Strong Foundations Ahead Of Major International Assignments

Siddons inherits a relatively young Sri Lankan squad that has recently shown promising form. Earlier this month, the team completed ODI and T20I series victories against the West Indies Women’s National Cricket Team, providing momentum ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

His immediate priority will be preparing the team for the Women’s T20 World Cup in England this June. Before that, Sri Lanka are scheduled to tour Bangladesh for a bilateral series in April and May, which will serve as Siddons’ first assignment as head coach.

Siddons Brings Vast International Coaching Experience

Siddons comes into the role with more than two decades of high-level coaching experience across international and domestic cricket. He previously served as the head coach of the Bangladesh Men’s National Cricket Team from 2007 to 2011, guiding them to their first overseas Test series victory against the West Indies Men’s National Cricket Team.

“Siddons has also served as Head Coach of the South Australia Cricket Team (Redbacks) from 2015 to 2020 and Head Coach of the Wellington Firebirds, New Zealand, from 2011 to 2015,” added an SLC media release.

Before transitioning into coaching, Siddons enjoyed a successful playing career in Australian domestic cricket. A prolific batter, he captained both South Australia Redbacks and Victoria Cricket Team, finishing his career with more than 10,000 runs in the prestigious Sheffield Shield competition.