Duncan Fletcher needs to go

[Rohit S. Ambani]

[wobblydoggy]

I do not think it is his fault. It is your chairmans and the princelings

[Rohit S. Ambani]

He is like a spy in our system.

[kubrickian]

Hopefully he goes away after this series.

[Yoda-esque]

Duncan and the Indian Team : A Short Story Duncan had just finished the player's assessment report of their techniques as well as the reports that he got from the fitness expert and the sports psychologist .The results were appalling. He compiled the results, put them neatly in his brown dossier and smiled to himself. He would discuss these reports with the players today,enjoy the look on their dejected faces as he read through them and then he would get his chance to berate them.Finally, he would have control.Yes Sirree Bob,He would show them who was Boss. The media had spewed enough trash for the past few months about him."Donut Duncan" and "Ineffective Imbecile" they called him."Well No More" he said to himself loudly, "Chalk one up for good Ol' Dunc". He smiled again,took the dossier ,locked the room behind him and made his way with a little skip to the players dressing room where he had requested the players to assemble. Fletcher opened the door and entered the room.There was nobody there save a couple of those young chaps he had grown rather fond of;One was sitting at the far corner of the room dutifully texting while the other sat on a bench with his back to Duncan.He cut a rather forlorn figure with his cricket gear still on; sniffling with his head in his hands.Duncan spotted a newspaper lying next to him.There was a small article in that that Duncan could discern with the headline "I can only control my results: Rahane". "Where is everybody? I had requested everybody to assemble here" enquired Duncan politely. The boys looked up at Duncan and the one who was texting answered. "Don't know Sir" said Pujara. "I don't know about the others but Umesh is in the gym Sir.Should I go get him ?" asked Rahane "Yes,Please do and go get the others as well" said a visibly irritated Fletcher."No sense of punctuality ,especially those Delhi boys.They are thick as thieves , they really are", he muttered under his breath. Pujara resumed with his texting. Just then, a young man with a shock of curls burst into the room.He epitomized the word "cool".As he strutted in with his Oakleys,Prada Jeans and DKNY shirt ,Fletcher barked at him "Where were you Raveeendra ? " "Oh Sir, I had just gone to get my Perm.Good no?" smiled Jadeja indicating his electric yellow curls to Duncan. Jadeja then proceeded to stand in front of the mirror and started practicing his air cover drives , his electric yellow curls giving the impression of a real CSK helmet. Fletcher sighed. As they waited the others to join, an audibly increasing purr of a motorcycle was heard outside in the parking lot outside the players room. "Its the Hellcat!", squealed Jadeja like a girl at a 60s Beatles concert as he rushed towards the players balcony to wave to the captain of the Indian cricket team. Fletcher was briefly reminded of the time he caught the second act of "Romeo and Juliet" at the West End a few years back. While Jadeja was jumping and waving in the balcony and Pujara was texting,the dynamic Delhi Duo of Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir entered the room. "Hi Dunc", they greeted in unison, like a pair of Siamese twins, except that one was visibly more corpulent than the other. Fletcher gritted his teeth as he heard their voice.He really hated them. "You guys are late" he said coldly. "We were at this TV station doing this show called Viru Aur Gambhir Ki Dosti" they chimed . "Speaking of Dosti,wheres Ishant?" asked Gambhir his eyes scanning the room. ...To be Continued

[amiret]

Players say Fletcher is worthless

NEW DELHI: Following the humiliating loss to England at home, several Indian players have apparently spoken to the Indian cricket board, expressing unhappiness with coach Duncan Fletcher. Some players, who spoke to TOI on condition of anonymity, said they had told BCCI members they were uncomfortable with Fletcher's style of working and that he has been of little help. However, this is still at the level of confidential discussions and has not yet taken the form of an official complaint. A senior board official told TOI that Fletcher has indeed proved a disappointment. But he categorically denied that any players had spoken to board officials against Fletcher.

[amiret]

The team meetings now lack the kind of focus and intensity which we used to have during Gary Kirsten's days. Fletcher only told us basic things. There were no inputs on how to contain Alistair Cook or how to play James Anderson or Panesar or Swann. Fletcher has been an England coach himself, but we got no insights into the opposition," said one member of the team who is an integral part of India's bowling unit.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournament/england-in-india-2012/top-stories/Coach-Duncan-Fletcher-of-little-help-some-players-tell-BCCI/articleshow/17670087.cms

[amiret]

In fact, some players argue that he actually confused a promising youngster, causing him to suffer a lean patch

They are referring to Kohli here.

Fletcher's inability to iron out the reasons for Rahul Dravid repeatedly getting bowled in Australia and now Sachin Tendulkar's lean trot against New Zealand and England are also being cited against him. "To be fair to Fletcher, he worked a lot with Dravid in Australia but could not produce results. Maybe his ideas are stale," said another member of the team.

[Robelinda]

maybe the players are crap? Only so much a coach can do. im not defending Fletcher by any means, he is a piece of ****, but i do think coaches are overrated, much like captains. A coach cant make a team click instantly on the field, there needs to be more accountability in the players direction. Guys like Sehwag are uncoachable anyway, and as if Sachin is told what to do by some English muppet, these players shoul ddamn well know their own games by now.

[Sooda]

^ That is true in part. But often it takes someone on the outside to spot flaws in technique and rectify them. Fletcher is supposed to be a good batting coach- famously helped Tresco out, can he not do the same with Gambhir...? Or something similar, Im sure their issues are not the same at all... and if he cant then what is the point.... And there is supposed to be input on tactics too- dosent seem to have had any effect on that front.

[Crookbond]

TOI - hold your horses folks.

[diga]

pot calling the kettle black ...

[The Realist]

Players may think he's worthless but the Board does not as are paying him millions for ensuring the team continues to get hammered.

[Cevno]

Fletcher has added nothing to the team. 4th day 1st session farce summed up his contribution.

[CoverDrive]

maybe the players are crap? Only so much a coach can do. im not defending Fletcher by any means' date=' he is a piece of ****, but i do think coaches are overrated, much like captains. A coach cant make a team click instantly on the field, there needs to be more accountability in the players direction. Guys like Sehwag are uncoachable anyway, and as if Sachin is told what to do by some English muppet, these players shoul ddamn well know their own games by now.[/quote'] Players are not really good that is true but havent seen anything of value from fletcher and he has to take a fall

[zep1706]

More than the technical aspects I think Flethcer's main problem is that he's failed to continue the fighting spirit and positive outlook that were there during Gary. I don't know what his role was in the decision of playing for a draw against WI in the 3rd test when India should have clearly pushed for a win, but if he was in favor of that decision then that was a very negative beginning for him. I know that the coach can't go in and play himself but clearly whatever he's doing isn't working at all. Should be sacked asap.

[Crookbond]

More than the technical aspects I think Flethcer's main problem is that he's failed to continue the fighting spirit and positive outlook that were there during Gary. I don't know what his role was in the decision of playing for a draw against WI in the 3rd test when India should have clearly pushed for a win' date= but if he was in favor of that decision then that was a very negative beginning for him. I know that the coach can't go in and play himself but clearly whatever he's doing isn't working at all. Should be sacked asap.

It looked like he indeed had some say in that decision.

[vvvslaxman]

maybe the players are crap? Only so much a coach can do. im not defending Fletcher by any means' date=' he is a piece of ****, but i do think coaches are overrated, much like captains. A coach cant make a team click instantly on the field, there needs to be more accountability in the players direction. Guys like Sehwag are uncoachable anyway, and as if Sachin is told what to do by some English muppet, these players shoul ddamn well know their own games by now.[/quote'] Kirstin had pretty much the same team :cantstop: . Role of coach is defined by coach himself. IT is not just about coaching a player. It goes beyond that. Setting goals, setting sound strategies, creating a vision for team, motivating the players when they are down.. Gary kirsten had much more handson approach.

[Crookbond]

Kirstin had pretty much the same team :cantstop: . Role of coach is defined by coach himself. IT is not just about coaching a player. It goes beyond that. Setting goals' date=' setting sound strategies, creating a vision for team, motivating the players when they are down.. Gary kirsten had much more handson approach.[/quote'] I agree with you but I feel that Kirsten's methods wouldn't have succeeded either in this team. We require someone more pro-active currently (much like a Football Manager). If I had to give an example, we want someone like Bob Simpson (Australia 1986 - 1996).

[Dumbbells]

Time for Dada to become Indian coach.