Dear Faisal, I think you have got your facts wrong regarding the number of level 3 coaches in India.I qualified as a level 3 coach under the auspices of the ECB in 2001 and have been coaching in Uk and South Africa since then.Hence to state that Ashok, Kiran and Balwinder are the only three level 3 coaches in India is not a correct information that you have given in your article. Many thanks. Raj Chaudhuri(Ranji trophy cricketer and currently playing professional league cricket and coaching professionally as well in UK and South Africa.)
I am a guy firmly stuck in the 80's (my growing up years) and so, I remember a lot of the famous and not-so-famous cricketers of that era. Ashok malhotra has a very good record in first class cricket but was never ever really able to translate those kinds of records in to International cricket. The reason for writing about all this is the vilification of JOhn Wright that has been done by a lot of cricketers of that era simply because he is not an Indian. I can't quite recollect if Ashok was one of them, but I am happy that he realizes how tough a job it is, and how Mr Wright has been grace under fire (just like his playing days). The fact that he has been doing a lot of the back-door strategysing, he has been able to bond with the players (no mean achievement considering the diversity that our nation has) and he has been able to create a cultutre in which players of the team have been able to bond with each other, in the midst of intense media and public scrutiny is a superb achievement. I am glad that Mr Malhotra has been able to see things from the coach's perspective and has been appreciative (though not directly) of the difficulties faced by Mr Wright. Indeed, it is a very steep learning curve. I feel Mr Dalmiya should also spend a tournament with the team and face the pressure that is faced by Mr Wright and the boys too. It will be a huge lesson for him too.
Guys, I couldn't find anywhere in the article that John Buchanan has led the Aussies to 2 WC wins. Secondly, it only mentions that the campaign in the Carib-beer cup was rather successful, rather than saying that they reached the semis. i think that coming fifth in such a foreign tournament is creditable if not remarkable. I don't know what's wrong with all the guys pouncing on Faisal. I also think there cannot be a better time to experiment with the team. All main players need a break from 'CRICKET' and need to go home. It is ideal to give all the youngsters a chance in this pathetically scheduled tournament.
Chill out guys, Easwar
BTW, I think even us fans need a break from cricket after the rather emotional WC.
Well well Faisal, mark your guard man!!! I didnt come to expect so many mistakes from some one like you. May be you are not concentrating that bit harder after your stint at South Africa but i hope coming from the house of rediff, there has to be some one who can proof read the piece before publishing. So many bloopers in a single news item is unpardonable.
Think rediff has begun to take its readers for granted. Well if this trend continues, it will not be long when readers will turn back to you.
Hey Faisal, I don't understand how people like you who dont do slightest of research joins the media and writes something about Cricket. Before you comment about Ashok Malhotra's competitiveness, you be competitive enough to write something credible. John Buchanan did not coach the 1999 world cup winning squad. Go back and you will notice Geoff Marsh was the coach. Buchanan took over after the world cup.
