Gundappa Viswanath appointed NCA batting coach

[DesiChap]

Stylish former India batsman Gundappa Viswanath has been appointed batting coach of the National Cricket Association (NCA). "We have appointed Viswanath the NCA batting coach. The proposal came from NCA chairman Ravi Shastri himself," an official who attended a top-level NCA meeting in Bangalore told IANS. Viswanath, a very popular cricketer known for his quiet gentlemanly behaviour laced with a great sense of humour, was appointed batting coach at an NCA meeting held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday evening. The diminutive 58-year-old maestro, who led India in two Test matches in the 1980s, is already associated with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) academy. He was known for his stylish and courageous batting against both spin and pace during his international career that lasted from 1969 to 1983. Viswanath amassed 6,080 runs at 41.93 in 91 Tests and 439 in 25 One-Day Internationals and captained India in two Test matches in 1979-80. "Once his appointment was made it was decided either Shastri or Javagal Srinath, who is also a member of the NCA board, would formally speak to Viswanath to inform him about the appointment," he said. It is learnt that the Bangalore-based Viswanath, who is also a former International Cricket Council match referee, could not be informed Thursday evening itself as it was too late. However, sources close to Viswanath, said he would only be too happy to take up the job. Viswanath retired from his bank job in April late year, and his only cricketing engagement is his association with the KSCA Academy. Viswanath is also the brother-in-law of Sunil Gavaskar. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=14a68235-1d3a-4a21-bec7-8feab69f1a90&MatchID1=4609&TeamID1=9&TeamID2=4&MatchType1=2&SeriesID1=1159&PrimaryID=4609&IsCricket=true&Headline=G+Viswanath+is+new+NCA+batting+coach