Switchblade Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Gary Kirsten versus Duncan Fletcher http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/61561/gary-kirsten-versus-duncan-fletcher India was playing the much talked about Monkeygate series in 2007-8 and had lost the first two Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney. The atmosphere was one of hostility and there was no sense of sportsmans spirit left in either team. So much so that Anil Kumble, who led the team with great panache and resilience in this series, said in the Sydney post match press conference that there was only one team that was playing in the spirit of the game. The third Test match at Perth, understandably, had become a do or die affair. Just then did Gary Kirsten come to the Indian dressing room for the first time as would be coach of India. He had not yet taken over as coach yet but had come to Australia to get a sense of the team. Most players who played the Perth test will testify how much Gary's arrival helped and what it did to the team. India, we all know, won a famous victory at the WACA. It was the start of the resurgence, which ultimately propelled India to the number one position in world Test rankings. With Gary as coach India beat England at home in 2008-9, beat New Zealand in New Zealand in both ODIs and Tests in 2009 and drew the away Test series in South Africa in 2010-2011 before winning the world cup. For a long 15 months we had not lost a single Test series and were consistently competitive overseas. In fact, in the 2009 New Zealand Test series India could have easily won 2-0 had it not been for rain and inclement weather. Since Gary's departure in 2011, soon after India won the World Cup, it has all gone downhill. First a look at the results- 0-4 in England in the Test series followed by a 0-3 (India tied one and another was abandoned) loss in the one day series. If the Indian fans thought this tour was an aberration we yet again lost 0-4 in Australia in Tests and failed to qualify for the final of the tri series involving Australia and Sri Lanka. Thereafter we lost in the pool stages of the Asia Cup and also lost the home Test series versus England. The only two victories of significance were the 4-0 win against Michael Clarke's Australia and the ICC Champions Trophy in England. Since then we have lost the Test and ODI series to South Africa away from home and have now been routed in New Zealand. Yes India did beat the West Indies at home in both Tests and ODIs but it is all about being competitive away from home especially with the World Cup just a year away. If Gary had bred a winning habit away from home and made us believe anything is possible, under Duncan all the good work has been undone. The confidence is at a low and the very perception that we are underdogs in alien conditions has returned to haunt Indian cricket. The captain is surely feeling the heat and in circumstances like these it is the coach who has to take over. He needs to offer more options, suggest changes in combination and advise MSD on the way forward. Simply put he needs to be proactive for the fans want to see results and see them soon enough. Duncan Fletcher, by every yardstick, has been given too long a rope. Underperformance has never been questioned and every time there has been criticism in the media it has been dismissed as unfair. England has shown the way with Andy Flower in the post Ashes context exactly as Australia had done with Micky Arthur. If you dont deliver you have to make way is the mantra. Unfortunately for Indian fans it is not the case with Duncan. A non-controversial figure who is easy to deal with, Duncan has managed to save his job amidst all the criticism. The question is for how long? How long can we continue to accept abysmal performances overseas? How long will the coach be there when the team is going from bad to worse in overseas conditions? The world title appears to be fast slipping away and unless correctives are undertaken with immediacy we will soon be former world champions. Duncan alone isn't the remedy. That is never the case. But making him accountable is definitely the start. Going back to Gary's tenure shows why. Can we get the South African back? The BCCI with all its might should give it a shot.
Asim Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Check Intikhab Alam, he does Nothing for the players but brings Luck to the team... Having Dhoni as captain won't make big difference anyways whoever comes as coach...
Switchblade Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Check Intikhab Alam' date=' he does Nothing for the players but brings Luck to the team... Having Dhoni as captain won't make big difference anyways whoever comes as coach...[/quote'] He was coach of Punjab Ranji Team and some players praised him though he will turn into a Desi Version of Fletcher lol
Saad Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 What about Mickey Arthur? He's a very hard working coach.
Switchblade Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 What about Mickey Arthur? He's a very hard working coach. Won't be successful here dictator type coach won't work here in India
Switchblade Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 The difference between Kirsten and Greg was that Greg tried to go against the system and Garry understood the system so he was comfortable plus he was a great man manager while Chappel wasn't. Likes of Andy Flower , Arthur who as it is quit the Sa coaching job and was fired from Australian job are your control freaks
Switchblade Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 Yeah nice pick. He is coaching Westindies right now right ?
Switchblade Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 Yeah he is and can you imagine anybody managing that volatile lot :). Frankly speaking comes across as a real sensible soul who knows how to get things going. Not too laidback nor does he want to be too much in the thick of it very balanced. He was also bowling coach of England if I am not wrong ? How about a guy like Justin Langer is he going to work overe here in India ?
SLICKR392 Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 What's the obsession with foreign coaches? Its better to have someone from India. There would be more determination from that coach and can gel better with the players and they would feel more free.
Switchblade Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 Yeah he was I think - with langer now hes too intense not sure our fellows have that side of the sport covered. I know they made a start with upton but debatable whether they can handle that heavy a load :). Though If I had anything to do with this I would try him - interesting option out there now that you mention him. Coz back in 2011 there was a rumour I think that he might get the job but Fletcher got that job as he was suggested by Garry.Would like to have Justin Langer or Ray Jennings with Virat as the new leader
Switchblade Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 What's the obsession with foreign coaches? Its better to have someone from India. There would be more determination from that coach and can gel better with the players and they would feel more free. Our players themselves are comfortable with foreighn coach as they feel they don't come with any baggage plus only descent option as an Indian coach I see is Lalchand Rajput or Robin Singh.The likes of Madan Lal or Kapil Dev won't work infact back in the 90's they were terrible coaches.Plus I think it was during our Westindies tour Siddhu had a fight or an argument with Madan Lal.
Talwar Raja Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 We are stuck with Duncan till 2015 wc. Lol.
Switchblade Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 Now that's a tough one I wouldn't risk kohlis batting form though its coming to a point where we probably should give it a try - dhoni clearly shouldn't be leading this side at least in tests. As long as ms is around no coach will get us that turnaround that's a guarantee. After 2015 the best option is to have a new coach and captain.
CG Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 We can start by DHoni leaving t20 now then test captaincy after eng tour.
Switchblade Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 We can start by DHoni leaving t20 now then test captaincy after eng tour. Was never a fan of Dhoni in T20's
cricketman Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 You guys can talk about the CSK influence all you want, but Fleming would be an awesome coach for team India. He is one of the best tacticians of the game ever, and is in the Gary Kirsten mould. He is young and can connect with our players. Besides, CSK has had the most success of any franchise for a reason. and the CSK players in the team - Jadeja, MSD, Vijay in tests etc - are all performing consistently. obviously chennai players and fleming are doing something right.
jalebi_bhai Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 You guys can talk about the CSK influence all you want, but Fleming would be an awesome coach for team India. He is one of the best tacticians of the game ever, and is in the Gary Kirsten mould. He is young and can connect with our players. Besides, CSK has had the most success of any franchise for a reason. and the CSK players in the team - Jadeja, MSD, Vijay in tests etc - are all performing consistently. obviously chennai players and fleming are doing something right. Oh....we all know that reason......:giggle: Please......don't use the IPL as a series barometer for anything.......
Rebel Agent Posted February 2, 2014 Author Posted February 2, 2014 I do believe that Fleming would make a good national team coach, Shane Warne is another India could look at, he would be great for Indian spinners as well.
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