Victorian Premier Cricket: Test spinner Suraj Randiv to leave Dandenong

Former Sri Lankan Test offie Suraj Randiv has taken up a player-coach position in the Eastern Cricket Association.

Suraj Randiv bowling for Dandenong last season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Dandenong spin bowler Suraj Randiv has joined the list of senior players leaving Victorian Premier Cricket.

The former Sri Lankan international confirmed this morning he had accepted a playing-coach position with Eastern association club Edinburgh, which is based at the famous Brunswick St Oval in Fitzroy.

Randiv said coaching was the next phase of his cricket career.

The 36-year-old joined Dandy ahead of the 2019-20 season after filling the marquee player role in the Super Slam in 2018-19 and nabbing 19 wickets to help the team win the Victorian title and qualify for the national T20 championships in Adelaide.

Suraj Randiv bowling for Dandenong in the 2020-21 grand final against Prahran. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Randiv took 46 wickets (12 in Super Slam) in his first full season with the Panthers and 23 at 24.3 in the season completed two weeks ago.

He said he had enjoyed his time at Dandenong and had hoped his Premier stint would lead to a Big Bash League contract.

When it didn’t, he decided to make his start in coaching.

“It’s time for me to take the next step, as a coach,’’ Randiv, who played 12 Test matches and 31 ODIs for Sri Lanka, said.

The Premier competition has already lost leading lights Aaron Ayre, Simon Hill and Steve Taylor.

With Randiv’s departure from the club, the Panthers will push up leg-spinner Gehan Seneviratne and their other young slowies.

Dandenong expects a number of other senior players to move on, including medium-pacer Peter Cassidy.

Cassidy is being linked with a move to Sub-District cricket, as is batsman LJ Edwards.

Meanwhile Frankston-Peninsula is believed to be targeting paceman James Nanopoulos, and captain Tom Donnell is undecided about playing on.