Fired Up For The Hot Seat

A year after appointing Anil Kumble to steer Indian cricket, the Cricket Advisory Committee, COMPRISING THE LEG-SPINNER’S former team-mates, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V. V. S Laxman, need to weigh in again. Incumbent Kumble has competition from five other gentlemen and VIJAY LOKAPALLY goes through the resumes of the candidates.

Left to Shane Warne, a national team can do without a coach. At the highest level, is it about coaching? Or man management? Does an international team need a coach or a mentor? Different players have offered different responses, but the general consensus is that even a senior team can perform better under the guidance of a professional coach/manager/director.

India has had a series of coaches, helping the team at various stages for close to three decades now. The current coach, a legend of the game, has been put under scrutiny by all and sundry.For Anil Kumble, who has maintained a dignified silence right through the unfortunate episode, supposedly involving him and Virat Kohli, this has been a turbulent phase in an otherwise glorious career. With the authorities seeking new applicants for the job of India’s coach, Kumble confronts a hostile situation from the administrators despite delivering as the head coach of the team. The job has attracted six candidates, not all high profile, but certainly causing an avoidable bitterness in the dressing room. It is believed, former Australia fast bowler Craig McDermott’s application was received after the May 31 deadline.