Australia continue to dominate when it comes to producing quality cricketers but it's not the best of times for their coaches
Australia continue to dominate when it comes to producing quality cricketers but it's not the best
of times for their coaches
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The Indian Premier League tried to showcase the good side of the game enthusiastic support, charity, money and wholesome evening entertainment. But the IPL also proved that having men from the most successful modern cricketing nation in your support staff did not guarantee success on the field or indeed harmony off it.
John Buchanan provided the best example of the rough transformation from a successful coach for Australia to a flop act for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Grapevine
The other day, a national newspaper reported on how all was not hunky dory with 2008 IPL champions Rajasthan Royals whose players were not happy with Warne's alleged dictatorial style of leadership this year.
It's not very easy to believe that Warne threw his weight (pardon the pun) around too much because he has always been a good advertisement for matesmanship. But pressure does funny things to people.
Whether or not the Victorian took on a dictatorial role, we will never know. But the fact is that Mohammad Kaif was asked to leave since he was not wanted. Kaif is not known to be a rebel and he gave bonding a good name throughout his up and down career.
When the Indian team was experiencing a bit of a trough in the John Wright-Sourav Ganguly era in 2004-05, Kaif decided to write to a letter to Wright outlining the way forward for the team which left the New Zealander impressed. It's no coincidence that Kaif's best cricketing years coincided with Wright's stint.
Australia is numero uno in cricket but that may still not be enough to convince critics as to why five of the eight Indian Premier League teams were coached/mentored by Australians. Darren Lehmann may have ended up with credit for managing things on the sidelines during Deccan Chargers' victory campaign, but the beefy South Australian did not have any significant coaching experience before his appointment which was made at the behest of skipper Adam Gilchrist. Greg Shipperd was another Aussie coach seen at the IPL for Delhi Daredevils,u00a0
Cricket lovers during the IPL were both tickled and hurt by the story about a KKR player being called 'you Indian' by one of the Australian coaches.
Though this story was denied, there is a real danger of this happening again. And next time, confirmed.
One can only shudder to think what the headlines would scream but team owners have to be vigilant while roping in people with a past record. For example, wonder whether Deccan Chargers knew that Lehmann was the first cricketer to be banned (five matches) for racial abuse which was heard near the Sri Lankan dressing room in 2002-03.
True success
Lehmann was the exception when it came to flop Australian coaches in the IPL and it's time for India, who seemed to be obsessed with the thought that only Australians can bring about change in cricket, to think again. Duncan Fletcher (Zimbabwean for England), John Wright (New Zealander for India), Mickey Arthur (South African for SA), Gary Kirsten (South African for India) are examples of successful non-Australian coaches.
Bangladesh have not cashed in on their encouraging showing in the 2007 World Cup under Jamie Siddons, who took over from fellow Aussie Dav Whatmore and Sri Lanka have not been the kind of force they were with Trevor Bayliss now in charge.
By the way, how come Wright who has the best credentials when it comes to working with an Indian team, was not amongu00a0 the support staff of any of the eight teams? Is it because he is not part of the Aussie friends-and-coaches network?
It would not be right to rubbish Australian coaches in totality. After all, they have been part of a successful cricketing set-up in their land of plenty. But contrary to what they (and many of their countrymen believe), Australians do not have exclusive rights to all worthy cricketing or coaching expertise. And it would be fatal for IPL team owners and think tanks to fall into the trap of believing that the only formula that will work for their squads is an Aussie formula.
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