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[dextrous]

Gary Kirsten is overburdened: Dhoni
TNN 2 January 2010, 12:23am ISTText Size:|Topics:Indian captain
 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/bangladesh-tri-series-2010/top-stories/Gary-Kirsten-is-overburdened-Dhoni/articleshow/5403177.cms
 
MUMBAI: It was supposed to be a routine pre-tour press conference. But a candid Mahendra Singh Dhoni made sure it wasn't. The Indian captain
revealed that the team was missing bowling and fielding coaches, resulting in an increased workload on head coach Gary Kirsten. On the eve of the team's departure for the tri-series in Bangladesh, Dhoni added that Kirsten had his hands full.

"To some extent, it does affect the team. You need a specialist coach to get the best out of the players. Gary looks after so many things. He has a lot on his plate," Dhoni said, adding, "That's the way it is. It's an administrative issue now."

The cricket board, in a sudden and surprising move, sacked bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh in October and the two positions are lying vacant since.

While BCCI roped in Australian Mike Young for a short stint as fielding coach, he is not available now. "Mike is not available for the Bangladesh tour. Fielding is one aspect of the game that is important in every format of the game," Dhoni said.

The need for the fielding coach has become more and more pronounced in view of the team's falling standards and appalling catching. Dhoni recalled, "We dropped quite a few catches in the last series and we will try to rectify that. Good fielding really helps, especially in the middle overs, with four good fielders inside the circle who can save singles," he said.

On his recent ban for two ODIs over slow over-rates, Dhoni said that his bowlers did struggle with the problem but improved as the Lanka series progressed. About death bowling, another problem area, Dhoni felt that the team was improving there too.

Meanwhile, there were enough hints at the press meet to suggest the Team India had also begun taking the first steps of preparations for 2011 World Cup. A core group of Dhoni, Kirsten and Sachin Tendulkar have started pondering little things which need attention. "There are small things were concentrating on. We have a pool of cricketers to pick from; we are focusing on having an injury-free team as much as possible, fielding and catching is an area where a lot of effort is being put in. The World Cup is going to be in India and naturally there is going to be a lot of expectation," Dhoni said.

Despite India's impressive run in 2009, there have been areas of concern which Dhoni and Kirsten want ironed out. Fielding, for instance, is a big worry. So is the lack of form of India's attack lately that has brought trouble for Dhoni. Beginning with the tri-series in Bangladesh, the skipper has set his sights on thorough improvement.

"On a given day, players take 50 to 100 catches as part of our training sessions but still sometimes things go wrong. To lessen the margin of error as much as possible is our aim," said Dhoni on the issue of overall improvement.

In fact, the tri-series in Bangladesh marks the beginning of another hectic year for Indian cricket and the skipper felt the more the team played the better.

"Our aim is to try and win every match, every series. Rotating players, trying new things, giving the youngsters opportunities can be a part of the preparation but the aim is to first win and then if there is an opportunity available, try new things," he said.

[12th_Man]

Interesting no gag order fro MSD yet  .
What were the BCCI thinking before firing Venky? I hope they have a succession plan in place before they take such step.
I am guessin this is for monetary reasons. The BCCI earned money will go in drain unless the team standard is persisted.

[keep-it-cool]

Good to see he's speaking his mind. He is on top of his game, people love him, he brings in ratings ..BCCI will find it tough to act against him.

This has been one of my grouses with someone like Tendulkar ...he never stood up & spoke their mind on such issues ...always toed the official line. He is so much bigger in terms of stardom than Dhoni ...could have made a difference.

[inoc]

Good to see he's speaking his mind. He is on top of his game, people love him, he brings in ratings ..BCCI will find it tough to act against him.

This has been one of my grouses with someone like Tendulkar ...he never stood up & spoke their mind on such issues ...always toed the official line. He is so much bigger in terms of stardom than Dhoni ...could have made a difference.

He did. His time was not right.

[keep-it-cool]

Good to see he's speaking his mind. He is on top of his game, people love him, he brings in ratings ..BCCI will find it tough to act against him.

This has been one of my grouses with someone like Tendulkar ...he never stood up & spoke their mind on such issues ...always toed the official line. He is so much bigger in terms of stardom than Dhoni ...could have made a difference.

He did. His time was not right.

When?

[inoc]

Good to see he's speaking his mind. He is on top of his game, people love him, he brings in ratings ..BCCI will find it tough to act against him.

This has been one of my grouses with someone like Tendulkar ...he never stood up & spoke their mind on such issues ...always toed the official line. He is so much bigger in terms of stardom than Dhoni ...could have made a difference.

He did. His time was not right.

When?

KIC

being a follower of indian cricket, it should not be totally unknown to you, the controversies, regarding SRT and his taking up the captaincy, for the second time. the times were different, today it would have been another story.

[keep-it-cool]

Good to see he's speaking his mind. He is on top of his game, people love him, he brings in ratings ..BCCI will find it tough to act against him.

This has been one of my grouses with someone like Tendulkar ...he never stood up & spoke their mind on such issues ...always toed the official line. He is so much bigger in terms of stardom than Dhoni ...could have made a difference.

He did. His time was not right.

When?

KIC

being a follower of indian cricket, it should not be totally unknown to you, the controversies, regarding SRT and his taking up the captaincy, for the second time. the times were different, today it would have been another story.

No. I meant to ask when did he take up any issue?

I am not talking only about his captaincy days. It could even have been later. For instance if anyone could have taken up the board on the ill treatment meted out to ICL or to ex players who joined the ICL (if he felt it was unfair or unethical or illegal), it is SRT. He chose not to.

Compare this to a Steve Waugh who took up cudgels on behalf of first class cricketers in Australia to get the current players' association into a strong bargaining position.

[inoc]

Good to see he's speaking his mind. He is on top of his game, people love him, he brings in ratings ..BCCI will find it tough to act against him.

This has been one of my grouses with someone like Tendulkar ...he never stood up & spoke their mind on such issues ...always toed the official line. He is so much bigger in terms of stardom than Dhoni ...could have made a difference.

He did. His time was not right.

When?

KIC

being a follower of indian cricket, it should not be totally unknown to you, the controversies, regarding SRT and his taking up the captaincy, for the second time. the times were different, today it would have been another story.

No. I meant to ask when did he take up any issue?

I am not talking only about his captaincy days. It could even have been later. For instance if anyone could have taken up the board on the ill treatment meted out to ICL or to ex players who joined the ICL (if he felt it was unfair or unethical or illegal), it is SRT. He chose not to.

Compare this to a Steve Waugh who took up cudgels on behalf of first class cricketers in Australia to get the current players' association into a strong bargaining position.

Gavaskar did so in his time.....what was necessary....

financial matters which did not need looking into during our times.

We are not talking about who did what are we? Otherwise where does Waugh come into this?

SRT took a stance when it mattered. When GC questioned the commitment of the indian cricketers, he , SRT, was the only cricketer to publicly call his bluff, a bluff which we all agree to now, I hope.

 

[keep-it-cool]

If SMG took a stand, good on him. That is what I have been saying. Waugh, SMG, Dhoni have stood up for issues where they may not have been directly affected.

SRT has not. Even what he said when GC was coach only came when *his* commitment was questioned. He also actively protested aggressively when the controversy over endorsements came up prior to the world cup (not the last one ...one of the earlier ones where the earlier proposal was that those who endorse competitors of the official sponsors would have to ditch their sponsors at the time of the World Cup including some period before and after the tournament).

He has however not - to my knowledge - used his stature & untouchability to address issues where he has not been involved in some way. Take the simple example of the players' association - such an association would largely benefit those who are below the top rung, the first class cricketers etc. The BCCI refuses to recognise the players association, just as the Aussie cricket board refused to at one point in the past. The difference is that Waugh (who was top gun at that point) put his foot down, rallied the players around him and made sure that an association was recognised. SRT, who was probably the only player with the ability to take the board on, chose to ignore.

[dextrous]

Perhaps Sachin is an anti-union Republican

[ramshorns]

Good to see he's speaking his mind. He is on top of his game, people love him, he brings in ratings ..BCCI will find it tough to act against him.

This has been one of my grouses with someone like Tendulkar ...he never stood up & spoke their mind on such issues ...always toed the official line. He is so much bigger in terms of stardom than Dhoni ...could have made a difference.

He did. His time was not right.

When?

KIC

being a follower of indian cricket, it should not be totally unknown to you, the controversies, regarding SRT and his taking up the captaincy, for the second time. the times were different, today it would have been another story.

No. I meant to ask when did he take up any issue?

I am not talking only about his captaincy days. It could even have been later. For instance if anyone could have taken up the board on the ill treatment meted out to ICL or to ex players who joined the ICL (if he felt it was unfair or unethical or illegal), it is SRT. He chose not to.

Compare this to a Steve Waugh who took up cudgels on behalf of first class cricketers in Australia to get the current players' association into a strong bargaining position.

Gavaskar did so in his time.....what was necessary....

financial matters which did not need looking into during our times.

We are not talking about who did what are we? Otherwise where does Waugh come into this?

SRT took a stance when it mattered. When GC questioned the commitment of the indian cricketers, he , SRT, was the only cricketer to publicly call his bluff, a bluff which we all agree to now, I hope.

What bluff did Tendulkar called regards to GC.  All he said was the dressing room secrets should remain that and deflected the questions as far as I know.   It was HS and VS who for their own shortcomings tried to deflect it upon GC and came up with excuses.   So I want some direct quotes from Tendulkar where he criticised GC.

[flute]

If SMG took a stand, good on him. That is what I have been saying. Waugh, SMG, Dhoni have stood up for issues where they may not have been directly affected.

SRT has not. Even what he said when GC was coach only came when *his* commitment was questioned. He also actively protested aggressively when the controversy over endorsements came up prior to the world cup (not the last one ...one of the earlier ones where the earlier proposal was that those who endorse competitors of the official sponsors would have to ditch their sponsors at the time of the World Cup including some period before and after the tournament).

He has however not - to my knowledge - used his stature & untouchability to address issues where he has not been involved in some way. Take the simple example of the players' association - such an association would largely benefit those who are below the top rung, the first class cricketers etc. The BCCI refuses to recognise the players association, just as the Aussie cricket board refused to at one point in the past. The difference is that Waugh (who was top gun at that point) put his foot down, rallied the players around him and made sure that an association was recognised. SRT, who was probably the only player with the ability to take the board on, chose to ignore.

KIC, spot on....I too share this perception of SRT which is why inspite of bucket loads of praise coming his way for his great off field conduct, I am not totally taken in, for, part of that blemishless record has to do with being a conformist in India, meekly falling in line with the board officials, meekly ignoring the match fixing happening in front of his eyes without having the gumption to report it or protest it....but then this is probably a trait most of the Indians ( especially middle class) have, keeping head down and going about your work without   worrying too much about changing the system etc. ( like ants)

[WicketView]

I agree with the point that Tendulkar has not harnessed his superstar power for a lot of things. Then again, I (or you guys I would presume) don't know the details of the circumstances. So, I would be cautiously critical, and perhaps not as much as I seem to be (perhaps incorrectly) sensing in Flute's statement.

[dhruvdeepak]

Perhaps Sachin is an anti-union Republican

well he votes for shiv sena

[inoc]

If SMG took a stand, good on him. That is what I have been saying. Waugh, SMG, Dhoni have stood up for issues where they may not have been directly affected.
SRT has not.

It is a duty of the captain of a team to stand up to inconsistencies. All the above mentioned names did so when they were captains. When SRT was captain, he protested vociferously, and in a press conference, (noel who?), when replacements were sent without the captain/team managements knowledge.
SMG and SW acted on once in a lifetime scenarios, so can SRT, but without knowing the details of this 'player association', I cannot comment. Maybe SRT does not agree with its terms. Are you privy to the details, please share it with us.

Even what he said when GC was coach only came when *his* commitment was questioned.

Sorry it was not his commitment that was questioned , but GC questioned the attitude of the senior players, and SRT came out in defence of the senior players. Yes he was one of them but not the only one.
Remember GC had earlier questioned the continued utility of SRT in his present form of 2005, two years ago, minutes after he became the coach, and advised a change, we did not have any comments from SRT at that time.
SMG did not do what he did of his own accord, he was chosen to represent the players. Maybe SW was a well, I am not sure.
Kapil Dev was more popular in his time, indeed he was the player of the century for India, what did he do?
VVS, RD (captain to boot)  are popular players, what did they do?
SG, if you go by this forum is not as popular as RD, but he instigated mega changes.
It is not who is most popular, but who CAN.
SRT can and he does when it is required.

He also actively protested aggressively when the controversy over endorsements came up prior to the world cup (not the last one ...one of the earlier ones where the earlier proposal was that those who endorse competitors of the official sponsors would have to ditch their sponsors at the time of the World Cup including some period before and after the tournament).

No comments

He has however not - to my knowledge - used his stature & untouchability to address issues where he has not been involved in some way. Take the simple example of the players' association - such an association would largely benefit those who are below the top rung, the first class cricketers
etc. The BCCI refuses to recognise the players association, just as the Aussie cricket board refused to at one point in the past. The difference is that Waugh (who was top gun at that point) put his foot down, rallied the players around him and made sure that an association was recognised. SRT, who was probably the only player with the ability to take the board on, chose to ignore.

see above, cant comment without details. Sorry.

What bluff did Tendulkar called regards to GC.

If you still don’t know it, then who am I to be able to change that now. I am aware of my limitations.

All he said was the dressing room secrets should remain that and deflected the questions as far as I know.

That is not ALL what he said, see response above
BUT.....
Wasnt a certain SG castigated in this DG and the rest of the world for letting out dressing room secrets. Lol

It was HS and VS who for their own shortcomings tried to deflect it upon GC and came up with excuses. So I want some direct quotes from Tendulkar where he criticised GC.

Not difficult to look it up my friend – google.

[keep-it-cool]

Inoc, you are mistaken. This is what SRT said "if the coach has questioned my commitment, I am sad because I have always given my all for the team" or words to that effect. Later on he even came back and gave a clarification that he did not criticise the coach. He just said *if* he has said this it is not right.

And in 2005, GC did not question SRT's utility. He only said that "SRT will never be the player he was earlier". I don't see why SRT should have protested against this. It was a valid comment and quite different from saying that he has no utility.

RD, VVS, AK and SG did not have the same stature or were as untouchable as SRT was and is.

The other incidents I referred to are easily googled.

[inoc]

Inoc, you are mistaken. This is what SRT said "if the coach has questioned my commitment, I am sad because I have always given my all for the team" or words to that effect.

KIC

I am appalled at your selective quotations, and fear that your judgement has been selective as well.

this quotation is at best a part quotation which belies the angst which senior players felt when the poor show in 2007 was blamed entirely on senior players and GC strived to dissociate himself from the debacle.

Later on he even came back and gave a clarification that he did not criticise the coach. He just said *if* he has said this it is not right.

as any decent human being would.
dont kick a person when he is down.

wait for the autobiographies for the real story.

Does GC coach any team now? it has been TWO years.
players talk amongst themselves. GC will never coach another international team.

SRT was kind to him.

And in 2005, GC did not question SRT's utility. He only said that "SRT will never be the player he was earlier". I don't see why SRT should have protested against this. It was a valid comment and quite different from saying that he has no utility.

good start, downplay your best player. of course SRT should have complained. He knew 5 years ago that GC was WRONG, proven by the fact that 5 years later SRT is as strong as ever and probably better than he was in 2005.

good enough reason to have ben upset and commented  if he was interested in only himself as you suggest.

RD, VVS, AK and SG did not have the same stature or were as untouchable as SRT was and is.

RD, VVS, AK didnt have same stature........I dont agree.

SG didnt either? but he instigated a lot of changes.

so why are you blamng SRT,,,,,,,,,?

[keep-it-cool]

Inoc, you are mistaken. This is what SRT said "if the coach has questioned my commitment, I am sad because I have always given my all for the team" or words to that effect.

KIC

I am appalled at your selective quotations, and fear that your judgement has been selective as well.

this quotation is at best a part quotation which belies the angst which senior players felt when the poor show in 2007 was blamed entirely on senior players and GC strived to dissociate himself from the debacle.

Pls show me the full quote then. This is all that I remember.

Later on he even came back and gave a clarification that he did not criticise the coach. He just said *if* he has said this it is not right.

as any decent human being would.
dont kick a person when he is down.

wait for the autobiographies for the real story.

Does GC coach any team now? it has been TWO years.
players talk amongst themselves. GC will never coach another international team.

SRT was kind to him.

Doesnt matter as far as I am concerned. I just gave the sequence of events as it happened.

And in 2005, GC did not question SRT's utility. He only said that "SRT will never be the player he was earlier". I don't see why SRT should have protested against this. It was a valid comment and quite different from saying that he has no utility.

good start, downplay your best player. of course SRT should have complained. He knew 5 years ago that GC was WRONG, proven by the fact that 5 years later SRT is as strong as ever and probably better than he was in 2005.

good enough reason to have ben upset and commented  if he was interested in only himself as you suggest.

Where is the downplaying here? He just said that SRT's peak is behind him. That is a fact. I disagree that SRT is at anywhere close to his peak now - i.e. the player he was in the previous decade. A look at his stats will show that. He may be better than what he was in 2005 now ..but how is that relevant?

RD, VVS, AK and SG did not have the same stature or were as untouchable as SRT was and is.

RD, VVS, AK didnt have same stature........I dont agree.

ok lets disagree.

SG didnt either? but he instigated a lot of changes.

credit to him

so why are you blamng SRT,,,,,,,,,?

because he did not use his stature to the extent possible.

[ramshorns]

Inoc, you are mistaken. This is what SRT said "if the coach has questioned my commitment, I am sad because I have always given my all for the team" or words to that effect.

KIC

I am appalled at your selective quotations, and fear that your judgement has been selective as well.

this quotation is at best a part quotation which belies the angst which senior players felt when the poor show in 2007 was blamed entirely on senior players and GC strived to dissociate himself from the debacle.

Pls show me the full quote then. This is all that I remember.

Later on he even came back and gave a clarification that he did not criticise the coach. He just said *if* he has said this it is not right.

as any decent human being would.
dont kick a person when he is down.

wait for the autobiographies for the real story.

Does GC coach any team now? it has been TWO years.
players talk amongst themselves. GC will never coach another international team.

SRT was kind to him.

Doesnt matter as far as I am concerned. I just gave the sequence of events as it happened.

And in 2005, GC did not question SRT's utility. He only said that "SRT will never be the player he was earlier". I don't see why SRT should have protested against this. It was a valid comment and quite different from saying that he has no utility.

good start, downplay your best player. of course SRT should have complained. He knew 5 years ago that GC was WRONG, proven by the fact that 5 years later SRT is as strong as ever and probably better than he was in 2005.

good enough reason to have ben upset and commented  if he was interested in only himself as you suggest.

Where is the downplaying here? He just said that SRT's peak is behind him. That is a fact. I disagree that SRT is at anywhere close to his peak now - i.e. the player he was in the previous decade. A look at his stats will show that. He may be better than what he was in 2005 now ..but how is that relevant?

RD, VVS, AK and SG did not have the same stature or were as untouchable as SRT was and is.

RD, VVS, AK didnt have same stature........I dont agree.

ok lets disagree.

SG didnt either? but he instigated a lot of changes.

credit to him

so why are you blamng SRT,,,,,,,,,?

because he did not use his stature to the extent possible.

Well summarised!!!!!!

[flute]

I agree with the point that Tendulkar has not harnessed his superstar power for a lot of things. Then again, I (or you guys I would presume) don't know the details of the circumstances. So, I would be cautiously critical, and perhaps not as much as I seem to be (perhaps incorrectly) sensing in Flute's statement.

actually, I do not think much about harnessing superstar status...if ordinary folks or ordinary players are not expected to take stand on important things effecting their fraternity, then it is stupid and ridiculous to expect SRT to use his superstar status to make a difference..suppose he takes a stand, what then? everyone will silently nod inside their heads and wait to see which way the wind is blowing?

my point was simply, that SRT as a person failed to take stand on things..but a lot lot of us too are not taking stand....hence SRT probably do not deserve all the praise he garners as a good human being , afterall he did not do anything THAT extraordinary off field..a lot of folks pretty much do the same things.

[inoc]

Inoc, you are mistaken. This is what SRT said "if the coach has questioned my commitment, I am sad because I have always given my all for the team" or words to that effect.

KIC

I am appalled at your selective quotations, and fear that your judgement has been selective as well.

this quotation is at best a part quotation which belies the angst which senior players felt when the poor show in 2007 was blamed entirely on senior players and GC strived to dissociate himself from the debacle.

Pls show me the full quote then. This is all that I remember.

sorry KIC, cant do it just now, promise to ASAP,  but i thought the whole thing was discussed in this DG.

will delve out the entire 'quotes'