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[poondu]

It is important to maintain a certain distance from players

London: India cricket coach Gary Kirsten says the secret of his successful stint with Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men so far lies in the way he has embraced the country and its work ethic.

“When people talk about me being a foreign coach I don’t feel like a foreign coach because I’ve integrated my thinking, my philosophies and my style of coaching, along with Paddy’s (Upton), into how the Indians go about their business. We are a very happy unit,” Kirsten said.

The former South Africa batsman, who replaced Greg Chappell as coach of the Indian team, said it was important to maintain a certain distance from the players.

Culture barrier


“Because of the culture barrier, that happens naturally here. In cricket time we’re together and outside we go and do our own thing. But I know how tough it is for them. They’re a good side and they’re good people, but they’re almost a paradox in many respects.

“They’re so very humble, yet they’ve got this superstardom status. You could easily see how it could go to their heads. But it doesn’t.

“They’re good listeners and they respect your space.

“I can’t really speak highly enough of them, and I’d have said that whether we were doing well or not,” the former opening batsman told the Daily Telegraph.

Kirsten said Upton, the mental conditional coach of the Indian team, was making a big difference to the team’s development.

Vital contribution


“His contribution is vital. He helps players really understand and fine-tune their minds for performance, at the same time he works extensively at the cutting edge of the art of coaching and man-management,” Kirsten said.

The South African said he along with Upton has adopted a different approach when it comes to fitness training.

“We’re trying to bring in new thinking but we’re not going to force them to do it. For instance after a game Paddy might say to those that haven’t played: ‘I’m running a shuttle school. If you want to come, come’. And they do.

“They’re physically different. They must play the game their own way.

“They play with enormous flair, and they’ve got great hands on the ball. We’ve got to encourage that.

Kirsten also felt that the job of the coach was not to impose himself on the players and it was important to give freedom to the captain, something he learnt from former England coach Duncan Fletcher.

“The coach is not the man to sit on the parapets in cricket it’s not like soccer. Duncan taught me that. He was a great mentor to me as a player, and now he is as a coach,” Kirsten said.

Praise for Dhoni


The India coach also spoke highly of current leader of the team — Dhoni.

“He’s got exceptional leadership qualities. He’s a very streetwise cricketer and likes to think out of the box.

“That’s lovely because I like to think out of the box too. He’s just got that winner’s mind-set: he truly believes this team will win more games than they’ll lose,” Kirsten said. — PTI

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112459852000.htm

[flute]

It is important to maintain a certain distance from players

London: India cricket coach Gary Kirsten says the secret of his successful stint with Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men so far lies in the way he has embraced the country and its work ethic.

“When people talk about me being a foreign coach I don’t feel like a foreign coach because I’ve integrated my thinking, my philosophies and my style of coaching, along with Paddy’s (Upton), into how the Indians go about their business. We are a very happy unit,” Kirsten said.

The former South Africa batsman, who replaced Greg Chappell as coach of the Indian team, said it was important to maintain a certain distance from the players.

Culture barrier


“Because of the culture barrier, that happens naturally here. In cricket time we’re together and outside we go and do our own thing. But I know how tough it is for them. They’re a good side and they’re good people, but they’re almost a paradox in many respects.

“They’re so very humble, yet they’ve got this superstardom status. You could easily see how it could go to their heads. But it doesn’t.

“They’re good listeners and they respect your space.

“I can’t really speak highly enough of them, and I’d have said that whether we were doing well or not,” the former opening batsman told the Daily Telegraph.

Kirsten said Upton, the mental conditional coach of the Indian team, was making a big difference to the team’s development.

Vital contribution


“His contribution is vital. He helps players really understand and fine-tune their minds for performance, at the same time he works extensively at the cutting edge of the art of coaching and man-management,” Kirsten said.

The South African said he along with Upton has adopted a different approach when it comes to fitness training.

“We’re trying to bring in new thinking but we’re not going to force them to do it. For instance after a game Paddy might say to those that haven’t played: ‘I’m running a shuttle school. If you want to come, come’. And they do.

“They’re physically different. They must play the game their own way.

“They play with enormous flair, and they’ve got great hands on the ball. We’ve got to encourage that.

Kirsten also felt that the job of the coach was not to impose himself on the players and it was important to give freedom to the captain, something he learnt from former England coach Duncan Fletcher.

“The coach is not the man to sit on the parapets in cricket it’s not like soccer. Duncan taught me that. He was a great mentor to me as a player, and now he is as a coach,” Kirsten said.

Praise for Dhoni


The India coach also spoke highly of current leader of the team — Dhoni.

“He’s got exceptional leadership qualities. He’s a very streetwise cricketer and likes to think out of the box.

“That’s lovely because I like to think out of the box too. He’s just got that winner’s mind-set: he truly believes this team will win more games than they’ll lose,” Kirsten said. — PTI

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112459852000.htm

makes for good read but I don't see much improvement in Indian fielding of late Tests. Anyone who watched the recent ODIs, please comment on our fielding in ODIS. We seem to be dropping pretty straight forward catches and not hitting the wickets often enough. If Robin singh is not working out, he needs to be replaced. I hope current winning streak doesn't make us oblivious to this aspect.

[12th_Man]

Last night it was sloppy, but that can be contributed to the wet ball 

[ruchir]

I think more than an increase in the fielding skill, we have seen an increase in commitment to stop the ball. For example, see SRT sliding, diving at the ball; see IS lunging and taking a catch. Mistakes will be there, everyone makes them, but there should be an inherent commitment to stop the ball.

[WicketView]

I think more than an increase in the fielding skill, we have seen an increase in commitment to stop the ball. For example, see SRT sliding, diving at the ball; see IS lunging and taking a catch. Mistakes will be there, everyone makes them, but there should be an inherent commitment to stop the ball.

I think this is very much like Robin Singh himself. He was not someone with great reflexes who could immediately catch the ball and throw it back, but he just would not let any ball past him ... somehow he would just block it.

I think that by emphasizing fielding enough from a very young age, one can ensure that the many of these kids would have superior capabilities of catching the ball (and hopefully some will have Jhontyesque natural talent). But, it might be harder to get the current lot into that mode. So this is very much the right approach.

Who were the bad fielders?

[12th_Man]

I think more than an increase in the fielding skill, we have seen an increase in commitment to stop the ball. For example, see SRT sliding, diving at the ball; see IS lunging and taking a catch. Mistakes will be there, everyone makes them, but there should be an inherent commitment to stop the ball.

I think this is very much like Robin Singh himself. He was not someone with great reflexes who could immediately catch the ball and throw it back, but he just would not let any ball past him ... somehow he would just block it. I think that by emphasizing fielding enough from a very young age, one can ensure that the many of these kids would have superior capabilities of catching the ball (and hopefully some will have Jhontyesque natural talent). But, it might be harder to get the current lot into that mode. So this is very much the right approach.

Who were the bad fielders?

Right on money. Coaches do make difference 

[keep-it-cool]

I dont think any fielding coach can make Munaf a brilliant fielder. Ruchir made a good point. There is increased commitment on the field - this, in my view, is not just because of the coaching but also because the overall standard has gone up witht he likes of Raina, Yuvraj (he has been much better this series than he has been for a very long time), RS, YP comong into the side ... this forces others as well to give off their best - somewhat like peer pressure.

[dextrous]

I think more than an increase in the fielding skill, we have seen an increase in commitment to stop the ball. For example, see SRT sliding, diving at the ball; see IS lunging and taking a catch. Mistakes will be there, everyone makes them, but there should be an inherent commitment to stop the ball.

I think this is very much like Robin Singh himself. He was not someone with great reflexes who could immediately catch the ball and throw it back, but he just would not let any ball past him ... somehow he would just block it.

I disagree!!!! Even at 33, when he finally made the team, he could dive and catch better than anyone else in the indian team. and he had some memorable direct hits as well.

[WicketView]

I think more than an increase in the fielding skill, we have seen an increase in commitment to stop the ball. For example, see SRT sliding, diving at the ball; see IS lunging and taking a catch. Mistakes will be there, everyone makes them, but there should be an inherent commitment to stop the ball.

I think this is very much like Robin Singh himself. He was not someone with great reflexes who could immediately catch the ball and throw it back, but he just would not let any ball past him ... somehow he would just block it.

I disagree!!!! Even at 33, when he finally made the team, he could dive and catch better than anyone else in the indian team. and he had some memorable direct hits as well.

I think Jadeja was better. And towards his end, Yuvraj started playing. Again Yuvraj was better. And then of course, there was Azhar, who had a somewhat different style.
That said, I am hardly trying to say that he was not one of our best fielders. And his commitmment was never in doubt.

The point I am making was that while he was not naturally gifted    to catch cleanly, he was a few notches above the average Indian fielder because of his commitment, and his untiring efforts.

[keep-it-cool]

I know this is unrelated to the fielding discussion ...but Robin Singh's mention reminded me of this. I think the one thing (other than a genuine allrounder) that the current Indian team misses is a batsman who can bowl medium pace - we have had Ganguly, Robin Singh and SRT (once in a while) but otherwise most of our part time options have been spinners. Currently, we have only spinners. A part time medium pace option would be very handy on away tours - especially places such as New Zealand and England.

In the current team, the only option I can think of is Dhoni . Unless of course we are brave enough to consistently play IKP as the fifth bowler.

[broadbat]

At the time SG and RS were used for their medium pace we never had more than two quicks. Now we have quite a few on the bench, guys like PK etc have not even had a mention whereas he had quite a reasonable time in Australia.

[keep-it-cool]

I agree we have some on the bench ..but the point is that all of them will never play in the same match. Say we go in with 4 bowlers ... 3+1 ... and one pacer is off the boil, the back up we have is a spinner. And on some pitches that is a liability. On the other hand, we have no dearth of options for a spin friendly pitch.

Even in tests, as recently as the England series, SG gave us a few crucial breakthroughs.

[broadbat]

Yeah if you are looking at a batsman of SG's quality or near to it, but who can bowl medium pace then I guess no one comes to mind. The only names of batsmen who can bowl medium at the domestic level the comes off the top of my head are Nayar and Bhatia.

[keep-it-cool]

Yeah .. there are very few options available even in FC cricket. It is a pity Bhatia did not graduate to the highest level ..lets see whether Nayar makes the cut. At one time, Sodhi was a prospect but even he flattered to deceive.