Today is a bad day in the history of cricket coaches, with Bob Woolmer passing away, but it is an appropriate day to highlight the plight of the modern day coach.
The modern cricket coach is possibly the most under-appreciated and over-criticised position in world cricket, particularly the head coach of an international side. Bob Woolmer was a great example. Rarely was there praise for his coaching methods or his input to the team, but he was one of the first men to be lampooned after Pakistan's shock loss to Ireland.
There is talk of Greg Chappell getting the sack if India doesn't reach the Super 8s stage of the World Cup. Chappell seems to cops flack for everything, when really it is the players or selectors who are most at fault. Indian fans have been heard complaining that their squad has many of the same players as 2003, implying that they are over the hill. But they forget that Greg Chappell is not a selector, he only coaches the players he has. Dilip Vengsarkar is in charge of selections. How often do selectors get sacked? Way less than coaches, I'll bet.
When a team goes on a hot streak, how often does a coach get the credit? Hardly ever, it is the players in form who get the kudos. Don't get me wrong, players deserve 95% of the praise, but how hard would it be to give the coaching staff a bit of credit for some well thought out plans every now and then?
Getting back to Pakistan's performance the other day. Is it really Bob Woolmer's fault that the batting was absolutely shocking? I say no.
It is my belief that a coach has more effect on the bowling and fielding units that on a batting unit. It is here that the knowledge of tactics, field placements and access to data on opposing players can make a real difference. Contrast this with coaching batsmen. A coach can spend all the time he has trying to improve a players technique with the bat, but it is hard to coach batsmen to eliminate rash strokes from their game, as often it is just a maturing process.
The post World Cup shakedown for teams that underperform will be interesting. Who will take the blame? Watch out for coaches to get the chop first.
1 comment:
As far as I am concerned, Bob Woolmer didn't die of stress or heart attack 'til that is proven. There is too much at stake in World Cup as far as India--facing an early exit at this point in time--and Pakistan--already out of the tournament--are concerned and nothing can be ruled out in his death.
Post a Comment