The Inside View: Issue 4

Welcome everybody, once again to another edition of 'The Inside View'. In these last two years, the Indian national team has had monumental amounts of success. In a previous column, Sourav Ganguly's excellent leadership tactics were highlighted which included the famous 'huddle'. But New Zealand born coach, John Wright has been a major catalyst for this Indian re-emergence. Why is this? In today's issue, 'The Inside View' plans on going indepth behind the foreign coach issue involved with Indian Cricket.

After plenty of losses in the 1999/2000 season both at home and abroad, and with Sachin Tendulkar stepping down from the captain's plate Indian Cricket was at an all time low. The greatly admired Kapil Dev whom the public had widely welcomed to be the coach of India, was about to resign from the coaching job himself due to a period of poor, poor results.

The focus was on a aggressive, yet talented natural born leader from Kolkata, India, and a foreign coach from New Zealand, John Wright who had finished up a successful tenure with County side Kent. The two men, had a mission, a mission never done before by any leadership regime.

Their mission was to bring India to the top of World Cricket, and to bring home trophies and series wins both home and abroad. To many cricketing critics, a foreign coach was a step back. "Are there not enough talented people in India to coach our side?” "Do we have to rely on a foreigner to get India to the top, a man who has no patriotic desire towards India?"

These were just some of the questions answered by many critics. But the matter of India having a foreign coach or a Indian, should not have mattered. John Wright had the desire to bring these talented yet inconsistent lads in the Indian team to possibly be World Champions one day.

John Wright's tenure is backed up by some astounding statistical figures. Since he has taken the mantle of coach along with skipper Sourav Ganguly, India's win ratio in Test Matches has been a very acceptable 41%, compared to a miserable 20% win ratio when these two men were not at the helm of the Indian side.

In One Day International's, traditionally India's stronger form of cricket, the figures are even more astounding. With Wright and Ganguly at the helm, the win ratio is a excellent 55%, which is more than a win every two games. Now comparing this with other men or "Indian Coaches" at the helm, it is just 49%.

The statistics speak for themselves. India has had a good shot in the arm with these two men leading the way. Ganguly has his aggressiveness, ruthlessness, a desire, a passion to win and to expect the best out of everyone. While Wright has his composure, his professionalism, his integrity, his desire and the expectation that his players perform as effectively and give more than 100% everytime.

Why has Wright been more successful than other Indian Coaches? Indian coaches tend to favor regionalism. A coach from Mumbai, will pick the players from Mumbai, a coach from the South will pick generally, players hailing from the South of the country. But Wright, being a "foreigner" is exempt from regionalism, and politics.

Wright sees players for who are talented all round. Instead of picking a batsman for his batting skills primarily, like other coaches would do, Wright picks team players, players who excel in the field, and are handy with the ball. Ask VVS Laxman, who was dropped in place of Dinesh Mongia only because Mongia is considered more athletic and handy with the ball.

The introduction of a personal trainer and full time physio designed to really boost the standards of Indian fitness have worked wonders. In 1999, the Indian team lagged behind, but today, are right up there with South Africa and New Zealand in terms of fielding and fitness. An Indian coach would not do this, instead focussing on batting and bowling.

To win cricket matches in today's modern game, one needs to excel and be committed to all parts of their game, any gaps or any weaknesses will be fully exploited. Wright has seen this, and has tried to make India as professional as they possibly can be, a think which has never existed in Indian Cricket.

The statistics speak for themselves, the fact that this Indian team is united than any other team in the past, despite containing players of different religions and backgrounds is a credit to Wright and his professional outlook on the game. The fact that young players are putting their hand up and winning games for India on a regular basis is a credit to Wright, and the fact that fitness levels of Indian players are at an all time high, is a credit to Wright.

It's an exciting time to be watching India play, and there are plenty of ex players and critics who should watch, and learn from a consummate professional like John Wright. Because without his term as coach of India, and without his contagious injection of professionalism, Indian Cricket would be in a dire, dire state currently.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated, I got a mixed bag two weeks ago from many people, both upset by last week's article and intrigued by it. It's always great to get your feedback, as it always improves the column.

Until Next Time,

Take Care,

Sangrah Bhatia




Posted by Sangrah