BOMBAY, 6 May 2005 — Smarting under the ignominy of a drawn Test series and a 2-4 thrashing in one-dayers at the hands of Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India appear to be as much beset with cricketing problems, as with their preoccupation of cleaning their own augean stables of administrative filth.
Indian cricket has always been famous for getting its priorities mixed. Instead of setting its house in order on several important fronts, the most important task at the moment appears to be to shop for a new coach to replace New Zealander John Wright, who has called it quits after a long five-year stint. There are several names like Greg Chappell, Dean Jones, Tom Moody and Dave Whatmore, who are being considered. That all of them happen to be from Australia is only a coincidence.
Pakistan at present may be enjoying a happy phase under South African coach Bob Woolmer, who is being given as much credit for their successful tour of India, as their resurgent skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq. But people back home, including former players, just cannot reconcile themselves with a foreigner holding this post. Earlier foreign coaches were sacked unceremoniously. Perhaps, Woolmer’s worst test is yet to come.
Why this fad of cricket-playing nations to opt for foreign coaches ? All of them, with the exception of Australia and the West Indies have them. The important point to note in these appointments is that most of them have been ordinary and not outstanding players.
This game with a beautiful name has seen many a celebrity turn a turnip when it comes to taking up international coaching assignments. Among the West Indian greats, it is only Clive Lloyd who has been a successful coach. Gordon Greenidge was another who worked wonders with the minnows. But the rest of them have been big failures. One remembers how Sir Garfield Sobers was invited to Australia to take up coaching assignments at cricket academies before being given charge of the national team. The euphoria of having the greatest all-rounder of all time as a coach soon faded and Sobers himself drifted more into owning race-horses than bringing up promising young Australians as cricketers of the future. Cricket coaching and Sir Garfield Sobers never did come together again.
Another West Indies great, Vivian Richards not only had the shortest stint as national coach, but also an assignment that was nothing short of a disaster. He was further humiliated by being quietly replaced by Roger Harper. Imran Khan always wanted to do something good for Pakistani cricket, but being the national coach was the last thing on his mind. While Sunil Gavaskar only toyed with the idea of turning a coach but never quite did it, Kapil Dev’s six-month stint was highly disappointing.
All this would certainly suggest that, while these super stars prided their achievement and contribution they had made to their countries as players, in the heart of their hearts they knew that they just could not be good coaches, however noble their intentions.
The most classic example is that of Sir Donald Bradman. When he was at the height of his fame as a marauding batsman, he had thought it fit to start a cricket coaching school for youngsters at Bowrall, his birth place near Adelaide. But he did not take to coaching himself. He instead appointed a small-time player, but a full-time professional coach for the job. That then is the gist of the matter. Coaching at the highest level is a full-time, professional job. It is his expertise and not his star-status that counts.
That, perhaps may be the reason that the special committee that has been set up may be veering round the idea of having Tom Moody as the next Indian coach. He has played the least number of Tests for Australia and that too without much distinction as compared to Greg Chappell and Dean Jones, both outstanding batsmen.
The post of the coach of the Indian team is perhaps the highest paid cricketing job in the world. Did someone hear the great Sir Vivian Richards drop a hint that he might be interest in the job ?
The amount of cricket that is played today, there is no substitute to a full-time professional coach. How can you have a person as a coach, however outstanding his credentials as a player, if he is not free of all his other responsibilities.
