Buchanan's attempt at being ahead of time should be welcomed
Buchanan's attempt at being ahead of time should be welcomed
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THINKER: Kolkata Knight Riders' coach John Buchanan |
Too much has been made of the Gavaskar-SRK issue. I have seen footage of what SRK said on Sunday and I don't think he offended Gavaskar in anyway. He spoke his mind, but did not insult him. He just backed his coach.
I have been a coach and I can see where Buchanan is coming from. The game has changed, progressed. Didn't we have days when only a manager accompanied the team?
If a player needed a doctor, the local association or Board got hold of one on tour. Now we have physios and trainers, assistant coaches and bowling coaches. I would stick my neck out and say, yes cricket needs such personnel.
If excellence in every aspect is demanded, then you have to have the tools to make it happen. Whatever others feel, I have the highest respect for Buchanan.
He may have had his down moments but overall, Australia didn't fare badly when he was coach. Sure, they had players of the calibre of Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist, but the team kept improving all the time.
Buchanan was my opposite number when Kenya played the Australians in the Super Six match of the 2003 World Cup in Durban where we stretched Australia. I also saw him work during a tri-series in Kenya in 2002.
What struck me was that he was always thinking about new ways to excel. You have to think ahead of time. He always did that.u00a0
I am not getting into this 'I support so and so' and 'don't support so and so' view but I support changes in cricket.
I have been a sucker for innovation in life and cricket. As a player, I used to try certain shots which attracted ire from some of my seniors in the team. Today, innovative shots are being applauded. When I put an aeroplane on my terrace, my friends laughed. The same friends enjoyed the experience later on. When I built a mini railway station called Patil Wadi in my farm house, my friends chuckled at my so called childishness. Today, they praise my efforts.
Let us enjoy the variety cricket brings to the table instead of feasting on so called battles like SRK vs Sunil.
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