Modern Day Cricket Coaching

The role of a coach in the modern game of cricket has changed in so many ways, I think they should think about renaming that position. Today's coach is a strategist to the core and someone who runs the trainings, practices, injuries and in some countries even team selection.

From the past, this person was someone who would just be in the background and help out on the basics. The coach's role today is much better than many white-collar jobs in the market. In fact, considering the pay-check most international coaches take home today, they should mark it as a white-collar job.

A lot of it has to do with the change in the modern game itself. With so much commercialization and money getting in the game, having an expensive coach other than him being a good coach is important as well. With the introduction of former players taking up coaching roles, it has become an even more respectable and involved role.

The coach is directly involved in player nurturing, skill development, strategy and also the events off the field. So, controversies and differences are no longer restricted to the players only. Coaches have enough ways to get into news as well.

In fact its not even one coach now. There is the bowling coach, the fielding coach, the trainer and a whole team of coaching staff. An idea coming from Amercian sports I presume, NBA, NFL etc. Every role appreciated and specialized in their own way. I guess there is no harm in specialized roles only that it comes with a cost. In the old days, all those roles were associated with a single person.

Another interesting part of modern day coaching is the cultural differences that most international coaches need to adjust to when they come into a new country. This is usually a trend in the Asian teams where money is not an issue hence take examples of Greg Chappell, the late Bob Woolmer, Dav Whatmore, Tom Moody etc, all have had difficult times adjusting to a varying culture as compared to their origins and people would have mixed opinions about their success.

I wont go into details on individuals but commercialization has revolutionized the role of the modern day coach as well. I am not exactly sure if thats good or bad for the game overall, but its definitely brought in a lot more quality & professionalism into the game which is good for the future of cricket.

Tribute to Stephen Fleming - One of the Greatest captains of All-Time

I am a person who appreciates the great minds of the game of cricket. These are the people who have maintained the charm of this great game even amongst the commercialization of it. These people have in the past and will keep making great captains in the future as well.

When I see a captain, I want to see someone who is a leader. Not just someone who wins matches or plays well. That category is for the stars. When I want to see a captain, I want to see someone who can lead from the front, be the last man standing. Take the boos in a loss and be modest in a win. A thinker, innovation being the middle name, and fight till the last ball or wicket attitude. Make everybody play to their best. Now that is a true skipper.

Bottom-line, I want to see someone who is a complete personality and some one to look up to.

In this regard, my all-time favorite captain has been Stephen Fleming. The guy may not get credit with his modest records as others might but this guy has been there in a best possible way a guy could be for his team. With not the best players in the world around him, Fleming made sure that each player plays to his top potential. If they are able to do that then he would go home content. Winning or losing is part of the game but playing it well is what the true cricket lover wants to see. Fleming ensured that cricket watchers got their money's worth.

Its a game, one of the sides will lose. But in order to watch good cricket you would like to see someone like Fleming on the field ordering his troops around. All his career, he has been known for his creativity. Call it strange fielding positions, strange bowling changes, new ball bowling with spinners and what not. Stephen Fleming is your captain for a team that isn't filled with superstars.

When required, leading from the front, opening the innings. Top standards of fielding and then nurturing young players. Look what Vettori has become under him. He is the next captain and those are some big shoes to fill. Talent needs to be nurtured and used correctly. Fleming has made it happen for the Kiwis.

Just read that he retires after the England Series. He will be missed for his innovations and creativity in the game. Thats how I will remember him.

Nathan Bracken - Brains over Brawn

Nathen Bracken showed today what a little bit of extra thought in evaluating the weather, the pitch could do. He read the pitch picture-perfect today and executed the plan to perfection. Slower balls was the call for the day and he had every Sri Lankan who took guard trying to pick up the pace of the wicket.

Overcast conditions and the pitch under covers led to a slow pace on the wicket. Where Jayasuriya failed, Gilchrist came out well. Adjusting and showing patience. But it was Bracken who played with his brains today. He made it count and worked on the batsmen, led them to mistakes and went on to his career best 5 for 47.

It was a day to celebrate the brains of cricket rather than sheer power. A day to celebrate Steve Waugh, Javed Miandad, Stephen Fleming, ...

Dravid, Ganguly - No place in Indian ODI Team

It's really strange how decisions like these made without a second thought about it. Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly were recently excluded from the the ODI series for the Indian team. There is a way to bring in your youngsters not at the cost of 2 greats who are at the twilight of the career.

Indians with already a demoralizing defeat in the test series really need to pull up their socks in the ODI against the recent World Cup Finalists Australia and Sri Lankan. How do they prepare for it? Remove 2 greats from the team, make way for youngsters. I think this was the most foolish move by the Indian selectors in the recent past. Just their presence makes all the different. You do not need to move them out this way. Batting is India's strength any day. There is a process of bringing in youngsters. This would have been their last tour down under. I think deserved a little more respect.

Now you look a weaker side, hope floats as they say. It can only be the 3rd team in the ODI series. There has not been a competitive ODI series in the recent past and it would have been much more interesting getting all teams at full strength.

Saying all that, I do wish the youngsters well also. I am not being unfair to them. They have a chance to prove so they should take it with both hands but I would loved to see Dravid and Ganguly for one more time in the ODI series.