Indika Senarathne remembers the impact his cricket coaches had on him as a child, and this has been his driving force in giving back to the sport.

Originally from Sri Lanka where cricket isn’t played as a sport, it’s like a religion – it’s tough, competitive, and only the best succeed professionally.

“I grew up in a time when we were world champions at cricket, the legacy and motivation this has on children cannot be understated, every child in Ski Lanka wanted to be a cricket star.”

Indika (Indie) played first class cricket for various clubs around Sri Lanka while growing up and after leaving school in 2009, he moved to England to play Premiere Club Cricket as a player-coach.

It was in 2010 when he met Black Cap Doug Bracewell who saw his potential and convinced him to move to New Zealand as a player-coach at Napier Tech Cricket Club. He oversaw the dual role for eight years winning two national and six club championships. He also made the Central Stags team who won the national title.

It was during this time he felt a real connection with coaching and helping children get into sport. “Coaching and encouraging children to play sport comes in full circle. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the coaches I had in my life when I was young.”

From there he began skill development coaching at Lindisfarne College where he implemented a cricket tour to Sri Lanka. This programme now takes place every three years.

“It was special to me to show my New Zealand students where I grew up playing cricket. I’m very proud this programme has continued since my departure.”

Moving to Cambridge in 2019, Indie started his private coaching clinic for juniors, One on One Coaching Ltd within the Cambridge Cricket Club.

“My passion is helping anyone who wants to play cricket. They don’t have to be very talented or skillful, if they have a good attitude, I can help them do well in the game.”

Indika started at St Paul’s in April as the new Director of Cricket. He will lead the team of cricket coaches in the playing seasons ahead, coach the school’s first XI cricket team and continue with high performance coaching.