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India appoints a new coach
Graham Ford's to-do list
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
June 10, 2007
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Graham Ford (left) and John Emburey in Chennai: 'Phew, have a busy few months ahead of me Embers...how about you?' 'Nah...not so much'
© AFP
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What does Graham Ford need to concentrate on in his first few months in
office and what lessons can he take from John Wright and Greg Chappell?
Cricinfo provides a checklist.
Enter low-profile, stay low-profile
When Ford's name was first linked to India's coaching job one board
administrator said in half-jest: "Who is this Ford? Next you'll say Ferrari,
Mercedes and Toyota." Ford must take full advantage of his relative
anonymity and try, as much as he possibly can, to stay low-key. After the
tumultuous Chappell era, when the focus often shifted from the players to
the coach, Indian cricket is in need of a backroom worker, someone who
can push rather than pull. Taking a cue from Wright, India's first
foreign coach who was remarkably inconspicuous for most of his tenure,
might be a good way to start.
Getting the best out of the seniors
Some have termed them Dad's army: watch them play and it's more like the
Geriatrics Club of India. The team comprises men who are
staring at retirement but Ford's best option is to get the maximum out of
them. India's first-class system isn't exactly brimming with exceptionally
talented youngsters and those like Suresh Raina who've been given a
chance have stood exposed. Ford's biggest challenge will be the senior batsmen, something that Chappell, despite his good record coaching some of the younger players, couldn't achieve for a sustained period of time. Ford is said to possess a
"technical eye" and comes with a hard-nosed reputation, factors that could go a long way in extracting the best out of great batsmen in their twilight years.
Balancing complacency and insecurity
Wright's final year as coach saw a number of established names take their
spots for granted and make the cut despite some woeful performances.
Chappell's tenure was characterised by a rash of insecurity, with players
unsure of when the axe would fall - what began as 'Perform or Perish' ended
up, as with Mohammad Kaif in Kuala Lumpur, 'Perform and
Perish'. Ford, captain Rahul Dravid and chief selector
Dilip Vengsarkar need to find a balance - gauging how long a rope can be
afforded to each individual.
Basics please
Whether he adopts rolling camps or conducts sessions at the army paratroop
centre, Ford must device a method to sort out the basics. He must get the
batsmen to run better between wickets; hammer it into them that taking the
shortest route helps and stressing the importance of grounding
their bats; he must get India to stop a few more runs on the field and
somehow put in place an efficient slip cordon that holds more than a
sieve; he must also unearth a couple of good close-in catchers. It would
help if he has a word with his countryman, Adrian Le Roux, the former
trainer who some Indian players still swear by. Andrew Leipus, the former
physio who's always ready to help, could also be another useful sounding
board.
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This man wouldn't mind some pressure being taken off his shoulders
© AFP
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Taking a load off Dravid
Dravid's job was, no doubt, made harder by a domineering coach and it's
important that Ford plays facilitator rather than doer. He needs to play a
big role in the internal dynamics of man management and the daily media
stress test that the team is put through. Wright did that wonderfully,
despite having his differences with Ganguly; Chappell struggled and his
dominant personality didn't endear itself to many of the players.
Earning the players' trust
"Now that we've experienced Chappell, we're ready for anyone". This
statement, from a member of the team, reflects the loss of trust in the
coach who was tactless in his off-the-record briefings to the media.
Ford will no doubt face frustrations but coaching through the media is
fraught with danger, especially when you're riling your own players.
Earning the confidence of the players - the same players largely responsible
for his appointment - will be vital.
No immediate revolution
No one doubts Indian cricket needs a drastic overhaul but trying to instigate
an immediate revolution could lead to further trouble. Chappell tried to
create order from chaos but plunged into it well before
he'd proven his coaching credentials. Ford comes in with a fine record as
coach but he needs to establish himself as the right man for the job. His
personality doesn't suggest he will spark off any major change in the
overall functioning of Indian cricket but if he chooses to do so, he must
wait for the right time before striking.
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan assistant editor of Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
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