Coach, captain need to ensure players feel wanted when chips are down, says VVS Laxman

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https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/vvs-laxman-virat-kohli-ravi-shastri-need-to-ensure-players-feel-wanted-when-chips-are-down-india-vs-australia-5501363/

“The role of the leadership group and the team management is very crucial because when the chips are down and one is going through a low phase, it becomes mandatory that the leadership group ensures there is team bonding and keep motivating and ensuring that each and every player is in the right mental space. When the team is also going through a lean patch, it is the responsibility of the leadership group to ensure each and every player in the team is made to feel wanted and knows that they are good enough (to be playing at the highest level),” Laxman said when solicited on advice on how the touring side can bounce back when things don’t go their way.

Laxman said anxiety, frustration and self-doubt plague cricketers, irrespective of how experienced they are or mentally tough they portray themselves to be, and each successive failure can only push them to the brink of depression. He recalled examples from his own career, which has seen highs and lows.

 

Teetering on the brink

“As a sportsperson, especially an Indian sportsperson, we don’t want to use the term depression, but along the way there will be instances where you are depressed but you don’t want to accept that because as a sportsperson, you feel you have the mental strength to overcome the challenges. So I think the role of the support system is very important whenever you are experiencing the lows. Because I have seen a lot of cricketers when they experience the lows and they don’t have the support system, their life can be miserable,” Laxman said during an interview to The Indian Express after the launch of his autobiography ‘281 and Beyond’.

Rewinding to the one-day series in New Zealand just before the 2003 showpiece event, Laxman says his spirit was crushed when the World Cup squad was announced mid-way during the tour and he was not included. He played the first three ODIs but Dinesh Mongia, who had made the squad, arrived in New Zealand to join the team, which meant Laxman was left to twiddle his thumbs, which only left him more frustrated and anguished.

“The lowest and toughest period ( for me) was the 2003 World Cup exclusion. I was in New Zealand and not part of the Indian World Cup team. I had requested the team management to send me back to India because Dinesh Mongia, who replaced me in the World Cup squad, was part of the New Zealand tour also after the team was announced. I was not going to play any matches, I was not part of any practice session, I was not going to get any batting in the practice, because the guys going to play the matches were going to bat. I played the first two ODIs (three) and after the second ODI, the team was announced and Dinesh joined from the fourth ODI. It was really tough for me knowing that I was not part of the World Cup, which I thought I deserved,” Laxman said.

Laxman’s pleas to allow him to return to India midway through the series fell on deaf years and he was left to lick his wounds.

On his return to India, Laxman played a Ranji Trophy match before he was picked to lead India A on a tour to the West Indies. After playing in the Caribbean, Laxman — with frustration, anger and hurt his constant companions — decided to quit the game. He took a break and went holidaying in the USA, spend time with friends in an effort to get away from everything. A month and a half later though, he started to miss cricket and decided to make the most of his opportunity as a Test batsman as he was a regular in the longer format.

“I experienced a lot of lows, I wouldn’t term it was depression because I never registered the term depression. But I have experienced a lot of frustration. In these phases you go through lot of negative emotions, but if passion can be your profession, nothing like it.”

Laxman said he never asked or questioned the team management or selectors about his exclusion from the 2003 World Cup or other instances but in hindsight, feels he should have been more proactive in trying to open communication channels.

“I never ever asked captain or coach (why I was dropped) but I think it is very important to know the reason why you are not there in the team. My parents had told me never to ask and ‘if the team requires you they will make you play, if the team does not want you they will not make you pay’. But in reality, it does not work like that. Now I feel I should have asked,” Laxman laughs.

 

[CSK Fan]

Yes and they should also sing lullabys for them while tucking them in bed

[Real McCoy]

Fair point. Warne was not as successful in his early days. Tracer bullet scored a 200 on him . But Allan Border had the ingenuity to ask him talk to his spinning mentor ( I forget his name) about how to work a batsman out and stuff like that. Allan Border and Mark Taylor also used him very well.

I also agree on Dinesh Mongia. He was a quota selection and didn't merit his place in the side. Having said that VVS wasnt a good ODI player but he deserved a chance in that WC. He's certainly better than DM. Also he was dropped when he was in his prime and didn't have a dodgy back.

[velu]

kohli to rahul - "bc , do you know how to hold the bat? " 

[rkt.india]

2 hours ago, Real McCoy said:

Fair point. Warne was not as successful in his early days. Tracer bullet scored a 200 on him . But Allan Border had the ingenuity to ask him talk to his spinning mentor ( I forget his name) about how to work a batsman out and stuff like that. Allan Border and Mark Taylor also used him very well.

I also agree on Dinesh Mongia. He was a quota selection and didn't merit his place in the side. Having said that VVS wasnt a good ODI player but he deserved a chance in that WC. He's certainly better than DM. Also he was dropped when he was in his prime and didn't have a dodgy back.

Dinesh Mongia was not a quota player.  He was one of the top batsmen in Ranji trophy when he was picked.  His part-time bowling also worked in his favor.  VVS laxman averages 30 after playing 86 ODIs with an SR of 71.  Not like, VVS was not given ODI chances. Mongia was similar as well.  averaging 28 at 71 SR.  Both were mediocre ODI players.  I would say Mongia was more suited to test cricket but we wasted a lot of time on Yuvraj in test and Mongia never got a test when he was doing well in Ranji trophy.

Edited December 21, 2018 by rkt.india

[Ankit_sharma03]

3 hours ago, Real McCoy said:

I also agree on Dinesh Mongia. He was a quota selection and didn't merit his place in the side. Having said that VVS wasnt a good ODI player but he deserved a chance in that WC. He's certainly better than DM. Also he was dropped when he was in his prime and didn't have a dodgy back.

ye do baaten 1 saath nhin jaati

Laxman had a horrible record in ODi till 2003 WC, his 4-100s in a mnth in odi came in 2004 ..........his running btw the wkts and fielding wasnt his plus point 

Mongia was bits n pieces . Better fielder cud bowl as well....he was made to bat all over the order which laxman cudnt have done 

 

Also what quote did dinesh mongia belong to ???

Edited December 21, 2018 by Ankit_sharma03

[Real McCoy]

3 hours ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

ye do baaten 1 saath nhin jaati

Laxman had a horrible record in ODi till 2003 WC, his 4-100s in a mnth in odi came in 2004 ..........his running btw the wkts and fielding wasnt his plus point 

Mongia was bits n pieces . Better fielder cud bowl as well....he was made to bat all over the order which laxman cudnt have done 

 

Also what quote did dinesh mongia belong to ???

Management quota . TN engineering students will get this

[rkt.india]

1 hour ago, Real McCoy said:

Management quota . TN engineering students will get this

Management quota is everywhere, not just TN.

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Quote

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/we-wanted-anil-kumble-to-continue-as-india-coach-but-he-wanted-to-quit-vvs-laxman/story-bUQVMP4i1B052ktRgJsRwK.html

 

Reflecting on the tumultuous phase that gripped Indian cricket during last year’s Champions Trophy, Laxman said the episode left a “bitter taste in the mouth”.

“I don’t think Kohli crossed the line. We at the CAC thought Anil should continue as coach but he thought the right decision was to quit and move ahead. It left a bitter taste in the mouth,” Laxman said at the ‘India Today South Conclave’ in Visakhapatnam.

 

“What I did not like was the way he was getting bad press during the Champions Trophy. The CAC wanted Anil to continue and the entire episode was very unfortunate, Laxman said.

“I always tell people CAC are not marriage counsellors. We were tasked with selecting the best possible job. We did a very elaborate process - unfortunately, Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble did not work out,” he added.

 

[diga]

@Real McCoy warnes mentor was Terry Jenner