Good - that's exactly the role of the media. What did this guy think was going to get thrown at him when he arrived on Radio Sport? We haven't won a game in the last what, 9 international matches, the coach is now having a break, and the captain is away as well? Smarten up mate. Now the players are going to have to wear those questions as well because the administrators haven't cleared it up well enough.High performance coaching manager this morning on Radio Sport was struggling to answer all questions. They have standard answer of "That's not under my domain" to anything asked that is uncomfortable. Jeremy Coney was ruthless. He was pretty much saying if you need a break to go see your family mid series then get a 9 to 5 job in a hardware store.
I read what Coney said and I completely agree. It's not good enough, even if it was planned. Why is Stead OK with leaving his post during the biggest summer we've had in recent memory?
I get the whole pressure of the international calendar, but you sign up to it - and there are certain times for breaks that are naturally occurring between fixtures and series'. The players get more breaks because they are physically in the job. Stead is mentally right into it at all times but he shouldn't have any niggles. I don't like it.
I think, and hope, this is a step towards designated Test and limited overs coaches. At the moment we have a coach who doesn't have credentials that scream out success and pick me, but he got the job because he was the 'best' of a small bunch. There's better guys out there coaching IPL teams, running businesses etc because they're successful enough that they don't have to sign up for the grind of all year round cricket. Let those guys have periods coaching our T20/ODI sides, get a Test specific coach (who may also be a franchise coach, they can adapt) and we'll be better off it.