Gary Kirsten brings friend on board

[DesiChap]

Gary Kirsten brings friend on board A STAFF REPORTER & AGENCIES

Calcutta: Gary Kirsten has managed to convince the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to include Paddy Upton in the Team India support staff even before formally taking charge. Greg Chappell had biomechanist Ian Frazer for company during his tenure as coach. While Frazer was a business partner of Chappell and still is — currently head coach at Rajasthan Cricket Association Academy in Jaipur — Upton is an associate of Kirsten at his academy in Cape Town. Upton, a school friend of Kirsten, is a mental conditioning coach. Kirsten, who will formally take over the high-profile job in March next year, was keen to have Upton in the support staff and the BCCI is expected to ratify his appointment at the working committee meeting in Mumbai on December 16. “Kirsten wants to have Upton in the support staff. The matter will come up for discussion at the working committee meeting. His appointment would have to be ratified by the working committee,†a top BCCI source said. He was also a fitness trainer with the South African team from 1994-98 and also worked with the Western Province rugby team. Although India did not have a full-time mental conditioning coach in the past, the two previous foreign coaches — John Wright and Chappell — had sought the services of specialist sports psychologists for brief stints during their tenure. While Wright had turned to eminent Australian sports psychologist Sandy Gordon to have interactions with the players, Chappell had relied on West Indian Rudy Webster to motivate the players. It is learnt Kirsten will get an annual basic salary of approximately Rs 74 lakh, besides other perks, the same as Chappell.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071207/asp/sports/story_8639898.asp

[DesiChap]

Same old s h i t BCCI will never learn. Hopefully this guy is good

[Dravid]

y cant he bring donald?

[talksport]

Its common practice for coaches to bring their own support staff

[DesiChap]

yes for support but Frazier was a disaster

[DesiChap]

He was also a fitness trainer with the South African team from 1994-98 and also worked with the Western Province rugby team.

Hopefully he stick to and improves the fitness/fielding and does not double up as the bowling coach :giggle:

[fineleg]

Its common practice for coaches to bring their own support staff

happens in sports, industry, etc. no big deal. welcome both and hope they will help our team

[THX_1138]

whatever... all i know is that by next year, one of our bowlers better be an allan donald or a makhaya ntini otherwise kirsten's balls are forfeit.

[Mr. Wicket]

I'm willing to give him a try. A mental conditioning coach could be very handy, particularly before and during a tour to Australia where he could be a serious asset. A lot of teams good enough to compete v. Australia have come apart at some points in the tour mentally (England particularly recently, Sri Lanka at points in the past, South Africa before, and a whole lot of other teams before they've even boarded their flight), and it could be a small but very effective piece of what's needed for India to do well there.

[guju24]

y cant he bring donald?

he is in england i think...or his contract ended with them...

[MundaPakistani]

this is NOT good for Indian cricket. How many coaches/consultants do you need?

[Desi Cartman]

I'm willing to give him a try. A mental conditioning coach could be very handy, particularly before and during a tour to Australia where he could be a serious asset. A lot of teams good enough to compete v. Australia have come apart at some points in the tour mentally (England particularly recently, Sri Lanka at points in the past, South Africa before, and a whole lot of other teams before they've even boarded their flight), and it could be a small but very effective piece of what's needed for India to do well there.

Don’t you know .. He is gonna take over from March. BCCI is a bunch of politicians. Why would they want to hire someone who doesn’t want to face the challenge in Australia. :motz:

[King]

y cant he bring donald?

Good question but Prasad is already the bowling coach.

[The Outsider]

Didn't Donald quit the English job because he wanted to spend time with his family? Why would he take up another role a few months later?

[jf1gp_1]

mental conditioning coach ????? what will he do ?

[Mr. Wicket]

Didn't Donald quit the English job because he wanted to spend time with his family? Why would he take up another role a few months later?

Partly, he's then made a commitment with Warwickshire again as it's only a part of the year for him with guarantee of the rest of the year at home.