Cricket coaches...

[Sultan]

Pakistan have one man to thank for their recent success with one of the best teams in the world - coach Bob Woolmer. In my opinion, that man is easily the best coach in world cricket. Everyone thought that taking on Pakistan just wouldn't work, with some justification. But he's proved them wrong. Bob's a genius.

What do the forum intellectuals think of the roles of coaches in cricket?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Maybe. Its a very underrated job in cricket, hard to really tell how much the Coach has to do with a teams success or failture. But yes, Bob Woolmer seems to be very good.. wasnt he the coach of that excellent SA team that challenged the Aussie supremicy and ran them quite close, around the 99 world cup time. Hes generally thought of as one of the modern thinkers of the game, always on his laptop.

The Pakistan job is a tough one, especially with all the controversies that surround their players, usually there are lots of rifts between players and staff(although that seems to be our speciality now). The series win against England was the first step, but this Pakistan team looks like they have the makings of a good side.

 

[crappycraperson]

On the contarary I think its been overrated in the past few years. Normally its the Captain that has the final say on Team selection and game tactics. Coach can only give opinions, people like Woolmer, Buchanann, Chappel want to assume more power. That earplug fiasco with Cronje-Woolmer was one example of coaches trying to control things on the pitch.

I don wanna see Cricket go the football way or american sports way, with an old cnut standing on the sidelines and dictating play. Its much more exciting to watch players on the field figure it out.

Coaches role in cricket should be limited to being a disciplinarian and over seeing the net sessions. Thats what Woolmer has implemented with Pakistan Team, they have always had the reputation of being the most volatile team so to speak in world cricket. He has settled them down and without the intention of disparaging Inzy, I reckon Woolmer pulls all the strings in the Pak Team.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I reckon Woolmer pulls all the strings in the Pak Team.

Then it isnt overrated is it?
Your right about the likes of Chappel and co. wanting more power and wanting to be more in the spotlight. I do think their role is a limited one, in cricket, its mainly the players, captain and sadly the board that determine things. I guess when you have a huge figure like Chappel, his say is going to be more. But generally their role is minimal.

 

[Spoony]

It really depends on the players. I think Pakistan have a young side and they're easy to mould. I reckon Woolmer would've found it much more harder had they been a team full of stars. That said, he worked wonders with SA, who I thought weren't naturally talented, but had a great team ethic. Reid did a great job for India as well, I think and Fletcher's been top class for us. . . Sri Lanka's had Whatmore, but he's part Sri Lankan I seem to recall.

Foreign coaches seem to be the trend in world cricket. On the whole they've been a success.

 

[vijay]

Foreign coaches seem to be the trend in world cricket. On the whole they've been a success.

Be it in cricket or football I dont agree with this idea of hiring foreign coaches for national teams. Club football and First class cricket are different but the manager and players of a national team as a whole represent the ethnicity of a nation and there is no room for foreigners.

 

[roonaldo78]

Sri Lanka's had Whatmore, but he's part Sri Lankan I seem to recall.

Foreign coaches seem to be the trend in world cricket. On the whole they've been a success.

Whatmore did a very good job for us and was the main reason behind our world cup success. He was born in Australia but I think one of his parents is a Sri Lankan.

John Dyson was quite good as well, wonder why the board didn't extend his contract.

Moody is still getting used to the job, the next few months will indicate his true credentials as a coach.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Be it in cricket or football I dont agree with this idea of hiring foreign coaches for national teams. Club football and First class cricket are different but the manager and players of a national team as a whole represent the ethnicity of a nation and there is no room for foreigners.

Im more than happy with a foreign coach. Infact IMO we need it. We all know how rubbish the cricket system is in India, the party politics, the elections and all the drama that goes on behind the scenes.

'Going the Aussie way' you could call it. To have as professional an attitude as possible.. to control the ego that comes with the star stature of an Indian cricketer. IMO at this point in time, we need someone whose not part of this system.. who isnt just another cog in the whole mess. Although i know one Chappel isnt going to revolutionalise Indian cricket, infact TBH there isnt much he or any other foreign coach can change within the system long term. But it works as a balancing act.. Lets not have illusions, the way cricket is run in australia is the ideal format and forumula for success. The way the standard of their domestic game is maintained, the training, the coaching.. we strive for just that. And having a coach and trainers from that part of the word, brings a little of it into Indian cricket, if that makes any sense.

 

[vijay]

Im more than happy with a foreign coach. Infact IMO we need it. We all know how rubbish the cricket system is in India, the party politics, the elections and all the drama that goes on behind the scenes.

Politics is not only there in cricket but also in every other sport but the cricket structure in India is as good as in Australia, England or any where else in the world.

'Going the Aussie way' you could call it. To have as professional an attitude as possible.. to control the ego that comes with the star stature of an Indian cricketer. IMO at this point in time, we need someone whose not part of this system.. who isnt just another cog in the whole mess. Although i know one Chappel isnt going to revolutionalise Indian cricket, infact TBH there isnt much he or any other foreign coach can change within the system long term. But it works as a balancing act.. Lets not have illusions, the way cricket is run in australia is the ideal format and forumula for success. The way the standard of their domestic game is maintained, the training, the coaching.. we strive for just that. And having a coach and trainers from that part of the word, brings a little of it into Indian cricket, if that makes any sense.

Aussies make use of technology particulary during the training and the coaching phases but its better to send Indian coaches to Australia for training rather than hiring foreign coaches. Hiring a foreign coach or a manager is more of an ethical concern irrespective of the techincal merits.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

but its better to send Indian coaches to Australia for training

Thats actually a good point. But as of now, it has no relevance. We had to hire someone and IMO a foreign coach was the appropriate choice.

 

[Slabber]

They need to be quite big. Enough for 11 players, the 12th man, a scorer and all that kit. A minibus won't do.