BANGALORE, India, 27 June 2003 — India coach John Wright wants a change in approach that will see faster pitches prepared for domestic cricket, seen as vital to improve the country’s overseas record in particular.
“It is more of a mind-set,” Wright told Reuters. “There are some pitches resembling those overseas. It is just a matter of how much grass (is left on the pitches).”
The former New Zealand captain, who took over as India’s first foreign coach in 2000, is in Bangalore providing inputs to revitalize the much-criticized domestic game which includes interacting with local coaches. India have almost been invincible in home Tests, but their batsmen weaned on flat pitches at home have struggled against pace on livelier pitches abroad.
But Wright said pitches alone could not be blamed.
India have not won a Test series outside south Asia for 17 years and despite showing some improvement last year, they could only draw a four-game series in England 1-1 having lost 2-1 in a five-match series in West Indies before losing both the Tests and a one-day series on underprepared pitches in New Zealand. By contrast, they have lost just one Test series at home in almost 17 years. Wright felt his players should also learn to adapt to alien conditions faster to perform well overseas.
