Coach Kirsten arrives; to cheer for India

[DesiChap]

Bangalore: India's new cricketing coach Gary Kirsten of South Africa, who arrived here on a three-day visit to meet the Indian team members was confident of delivering the goods when he takes over the high profile job from March one. "I know it is a very high profile job but I am confident of delivering the goods after taking the in-puts from the present support staff, including bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad, fielding coach Robin Singh and cricket manager Lalchand Rajput," Kirsten told reporters after his arrival on Friday. Kirsten, who has been appointed the coach after a long search by the board officials, said his purpose of this visit was to meet the Indian players and gel with them before the third and final Test match against Pakistan starting at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. "I wanted to meet the Indian players and get to know them better before I take over as the coach after completing my pending work back in South Africa", Kirsten said. Even though none of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials were there to welcome the new coach, a large number of media persons were present to greet him. Former South African opening batsman Kirsten, who has a highest Test score 188 to his credit was also confident of India doing well in the third and final Test against Pakistan. "Obviously I would be cheering for the hosts for the next three days that I would be here before going back to complete my pending work back home," the former opener said. Kirsten, who has scored quite heavily against India during his playing days was also confident of bringing out the best from the Indian team during their tour of Australia, where they are scheduled to play four-match Test series followed by a triangular One-Day series involving Sri Lanka as the third team. "There is no reason why India cannot do well in Australia if they continue to perform the way they have been doing against the Pakistanis," Kirsten said. When asked whether he was following the ongoing India-Pakistan series, Kirsten replied in the affirmative and added that he watched the Indian batting during the Kolkata Test where the hosts had piled up a mammoth 616 for seven in their first innings. http://www.cricketnext.com/news/coach-kirsten-arrives-to-cheer-for-india/28219-13.html

[King]

He's here for one test match? What a waste? How much is he going to get to know the players in about 5 days?

[DesiChap]

Kirsten is here to get familiar OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Gary Kirsten checks into a Bangalore hotel on Friday

Bangalore: It could be called the tale of two South Africans. Six months ago, Graham Ford avoided the media after being offered the Team India coach’s job. On Friday evening, Gary Kirsten didn’t mind taking the odd question on his first trip to India as coach. “Of course, I’m excited and why not? It’s good to be back in India,” Kirsten told The Telegraph as he checked in at the Grand Ashok. Kirsten, a former stand-in captain, didn’t show signs of jet lag. “I had a comfortable journey from Jo’burg to Dubai and, then, on to here,” he said as the hotel’s security staff escorted him to the elevator. At the airport, Kirsten emphasised that he’d made the trip to make himself familiar with the “cricket culture” and hadn’t come with a plan which had to be implemented straightaway. Indeed, Kirsten will only be taking charge from March 1. Till then, he’s going to act more as a consultant. Kirsten timed his arrival rather well: Around an hour or so before the team left for dinner hosted by Test captain Anil Kumble. That informal setting allowed Greg Chappell’s full-time successor to interact with the ones he’ll soon be working with closely. Kirsten, by the way, acknowledged that the “pressure” in these parts was immense. It’s not just on the players, mind you. As of now, Kirsten is going to be in Bangalore throughout the third and final Test against Pakistan, which begins on Saturday.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071208/asp/sports/story_8644550.asp

[guju24]

wht a waster of a position for indian cricket...let see tho wht this guy does...