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[feverpitch]

http://www.mid-day.com/sports/international/2007/june/159273.htm

Is he our answer?

Ford may have developed cold feet,but Kepler Wessels is open to the challenge of being India’s coach

Clayton Murzello

June 14, 2007

Wonder what the cricketing czars are doing next to ensure Team India has a coach soon.

Obviously, their efforts will involve finding a group of candidates.

If they don’t invite applications, one wonders how people will come forward.

Kepler Wessels is one name the Board can look at and do some research on.

The former South Africa captain, who played for Australia before South Africa, told MiD DAY yesterday that he would “consider” an offer if it came his way.

Experience

Wessels (50) coached Northamptonshire until last season, when he left the county through mutual consent.

His son Riki plays for the county.

He is worth consideration thanks to his stature as a player and his involvement in coaching ever since he hung his boots.

Television commentator Wessels has been coach of Eastern Province too and runs a private coaching facility in Port Elizabeth. He is now helping South Africa’s emerging team for their tour to Australia in August.

Potential

Wessels watched the Indians fare disastrously in the one-day as well the Test series there last year. After a win in Johannesburg, South Africa won the next two Tests.

“It’s probably the most challenging job in world cricket,” he said yesterday.
“India has the potential to be a very strong team.

They need to improve under conditions other than those of the sub-continent, from batting and bowling points of view. On the fielding front, they could be a lot more mobile and sharp.”

Greg connection

Wessels played under Greg Chappell for Queensland as well as Australia.

His Chappell and Sourav Ganguly connection (coached Dada at Northants last year) made him an interesting personality to interact with on India’s last tour of South Africa.

According to Wessels, Chappell was a toughie as captain.

“If you didn’t live up to the standards and if you didn’t fight hard, you had no role with him,” he said in an earlier interview.

When Ganguly returned successfully in both forms of the game, Wessels had no hesitation in saying that Ganguly had sealed his World Cup spot.

WESSELS WHO?

*  Kepler Christoffel Wessels

*  Made an entry to the Test fold with a hundred on debut for Australia against England in Brisbane, 1982

*  SA’s first Test captain after the Proteas were re-admitted to Test cricket

*  Scored 2788 runs in 40 Tests for Australia and South Africa (Avg 41.00)

*  Coached Northants until last season. Has also coached South Africa’s Eastern Province

[sudzz]

Nooo...It would GC part II with even more horrifying consequences-Remember he is the one who clouted Kap's on his shin...that displays the attitude he brings...

Remember one advocate of underarm bowling and the other a advocate of on field violence they will spell ruination of Indian cricket...

[RicePlateReddy]

Nooo...It would GC part II with even more horrifying consequences-Remember he is the one who clouted Kap's on his shin...that displays the attitude he brings...

Don't remember this - could you elaborate?

[Cernunnos]

Nooo...It would GC part II with even more horrifying consequences-Remember he is the one who clouted Kap's on his shin...that displays the attitude he brings...

Don't remember this - could you elaborate?

Kapil had run out Peter Kirsten before delivering the ball. Kirsten did it twice in the
earlier ODIs and Kapil warned him each time. Later in that match, Wessels deliberately hit Kapil with his bat while taking a run.
 
Still can't forget Kapil's furious look after doing it, showing 3 fingers at Wessels.

[RicePlateReddy]

Kapil had run out Peter Kirsten before delivering the ball. Kirsten did it twice in the
earlier ODIs and Kapil warned him each time. Later in that match, Wessels deliberately hit Kapil with his bat while taking a run.
 
Still can't forget Kapil's furious look after doing it, showing 3 fingers at Wessels.

Wow - what a prime beep. Kapil was one of the most sporting guys around and never deliberately provoked anyone. I am surprised the umpire let Wessles off (as it appears he did). Should have suspended this guy for 6 months.

BTW, on an unrelated note, I was reading stuff about Tony Greig yesterday (spurred by the Tony Greig / Kallicharan incident in the Rolling Quiz). He realized that the best way to upset the dominance and impact of Thomson and Lillee in their prime was to provoke them. So in the series against Australia, he attacked their bowling and started signalling fours himself. The ploy worked and they lost their focus (probably tried to bounce him out) and he prospered hugely in the series.

I wonder if Tony Grieg would be awesome coaching material. He was one of the most astute captains around, even though terribly unsporting at times. But if Ravi Shastri has media committments and declines, I am sure Tony is far more entrenched. He may actually be the greatest guy to lead the ICL strategy at this point.

[gouravk]

I cant believe people dont remember this incident.

[m]

I wonder if Tony Grieg would be awesome coaching material. He was one of the most astute captains around, even though terribly unsporting at times. But if Ravi Shastri has media committments and declines, I am sure Tony is far more entrenched. He may actually be the greatest guy to lead the ICL strategy at this point.

Anyone associated with ICL is a taboo with BCCI.. but a parallel ICL team with gully cricketers(warne,Mcgrath,Lara) led by Tony Greig might beat the * out of Indian team

[toney]

Kapil had run out Peter Kirsten before delivering the ball. Kirsten did it twice in the
earlier ODIs and Kapil warned him each time. Later in that match, Wessels deliberately hit Kapil with his bat while taking a run.
 
Still can't forget Kapil's furious look after doing it, showing 3 fingers at Wessels.

Wow - what a prime beep. Kapil was one of the most sporting guys around and never deliberately provoked anyone. I am surprised the umpire let Wessles off (as it appears he did). Should have suspended this guy for 6 months.

BTW, on an unrelated note, I was reading stuff about Tony Greig yesterday (spurred by the Tony Greig / Kallicharan incident in the Rolling Quiz). He realized that the best way to upset the dominance and impact of Thomson and Lillee in their prime was to provoke them. So in the series against Australia, he attacked their bowling and started signalling fours himself. The ploy worked and they lost their focus (probably tried to bounce him out) and he prospered hugely in the series.

I wonder if Tony Grieg would be awesome coaching material. He was one of the most astute captains around, even though terribly unsporting at times. But if Ravi Shastri has media committments and declines, I am sure Tony is far more entrenched. He may actually be the greatest guy to lead the ICL strategy at this point.

Tony G is one of the loudest critics of our appealing. I would love to hear his excuses as India's coach when we repeat this "offense". In addition, I think he has all the hypocrisy that comes with that land. Of course, he was a really smart guy and India may find him very useful. But I don't think he will ever accept this job.

[gouravk]

It is a misconception that we need a "smart" guy as coach.

[m]

It is a misconception that we need a "smart" guy as coach.

[RicePlateReddy]

I cant believe people dont remember this incident.

It is a misconception that we need a "smart" guy as coach.

After careful consideration, I decline the job due to family reasons.

[toney]

It is a misconception that we need a "smart" guy as coach.

Some things are just a mystery to commoners.

[indcric]

Tony Greig himself suggested on Cricinfo Talk today that Tom Moody is the best person to be India's next coach and BCCI should give Moody an offer which he can't refuse.

Is Tom Moody still available to coach India, if the offer is great?