Wrong selection of coach can wreck any team

    By K.R. Nayar Chief Cricket Writer, gulfnews.com
    Published: 9, 2014
    Gulf News.com
Choosing the right coach for any national cricket team is vital for its success. The selection should be done in the most meticulous manner — keeping in mind the person’s character and his skills as a coach rather than his talent during his playing days. This post is actually more critical than the captain of a team.

The damning revelations of Sachin Tendulkar about former Indian coach Greg Chappell through his autobiography Playing It My Way shows the extent of harm a wrong appointment can do to a team. National teams are made up of the elite players in the country and what they need is someone who can inspire them, rather than work on their techniques. A study of the best coaches will reveal that the best are those who projected the players and not themselves.

It’s a common saying that a captain is only as good as his team; but if a team has the best captain and their cricket board appoints the wrong coach, then any team is bound to fare miserably! A coach who projects his team can do wonders with them, but sometimes world class players who turn coaches cannot resist the temptation of hogging the limelight, which they were used to in the past.

It is here that Gary Kirsten, a fine cricketer turned coach, needs to be applauded. He did his job so quietly and professionally that India soared to the height of success, including winning the World Cup. In fact, he was like an elder brother to all players. No wonder Mahendra Singh Dhoni acknowledged Kirsten’s contribution as the best thing that happened to Indian cricket.

Australia ruled world cricket when John Buchanan was their coach — winning two World cups under him in 2003 and 2007. He wasn’t a star player but he knew how to get the best out of his players. The late Bob Woolmer was a special coach in many ways. He was responsible for pointing out chinks in cricketers’ techniques through a video analysis. All these coaches focused on getting the best out players without the agenda of securing their place or changing the outlook of the team.

A coach should not shudder with defeat but instead should garner his team to fight back and win matches, like Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis did against Australia in the Test series. A coach with dedication and devotion can even transform amateurs into winners like what UAE’s Aaqib Javed did when he guided them into qualifying for 2014 Twenty20 and 2015 World Cups.

Lessons from such coaches will live long in the memories of players and their deeds will remain as golden chapters in their country’s cricket history.