Gary Kirsten - Needed any more?

Gary Kirsten’s contract is likely to be extended after the ongoing series against South Africa as the coach of Team India till 2011 World Cup. As a coach, Gary was unknown before he took the post of main coach of Team India. Under his guidance, Indian test team became the world no.1 in ICC Test rankings. In ODIs, the Men In Blue performed very well initially and till now they have won 6 bilateral series among last 7. But Indian Blue Tigers failed to win or at least go to the semi-finals in ICC events may it be T20 WC-2009 or ICC Champions Trophy under Kirsten.

Gary Kirsten has also managed to appoint his choice Eric Simons as the Bowling Consultant of Team India. He is also trying to convince BCCI to make Mike Young as the permanent Fielding Coach of Team India who was just appointed one series before and Indian fielding was well observed in that series.

Recently the news of South Africa is also eyeing to appoint Gary Kirsten as their coach after Mickey Arthur resigned from the post was also holding its own. But Gary denied being offered by the South African Board. One of his closest friends said,”Gary is very happy to be the coach of Team India and he has no objections. He thinks Team India as his own team. He is getting $ 30,000 US Dollars for being the coach of India and that’s why he does not want to go to his home country leaving India because he knows that the South African board won’t afford him so much money for the job.”The person who once came to media because of criticising the Indian pitches in his own diary is now unwilling to leave India.

History says that India has won the 1983 WC and 2007 T20 WC without any permanent coach. When we are preparing the team for another ICC event i.e. 2011 WC, do we need a coach and waste money even if the improvement is none?Yuvraj Singh,the main strength of Indian ODI middle order is still struggling and Gary has failed to improve his batting. Moreover, India is still losing important ODI matches especially the Finals. So, my question is, is there anymore need of a coach if we are not learning anything? If much needed, why not appoint a high-profile coach like Dav Whatmore who has the best coaching record and currently the director of National Cricket Academy? BCCI has to rethink before extending Guru Gary’s contract.

A Terror Called - Shaoib Akhtar

Once he was the strike bowler of Pakistan, but now seems to be forgotten by cricket world. Shoaib Akhtar is away from Pakistan squad after his knee surgery in England. Some sources say that he is making a sincere effort to come back into the team. Akhtar is also hopeful that he will be able to play once again for Pakistan. But these days this bad boy of cricket is completely out of the news.

He started his career in 1997 under Wasim Akram against the West Indian side led by Courtney Walsh. But in the last 13 years, he has played only 46 Tests,144 ODIs and 7 T20s. With at most couple of years of cricket left in him, the 35-year-old Akhtar is still eyeing a comeback and plans to perform for the country and walk into the sunset with pride and glory. But it seems difficult as now Pakistan has the likes of Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Rana Naved-Al-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum andAbdul Razzaq.

Shoaib Akhtar first burst onto the big stage in the 1999 World Cup with a long, hurtling run-up and blistering speed. His glamour status was represented by a famous nickname – the Rawalpindi Express. But sometimes his ego and blind ambition to touch the 100 Mph milestone seemed to be more important for him rather than cementing his place in the Pakistan side. In November 2006, he received a two-year ban with his bowling opening partner Mohammad Asif for using the banned substance Nandrolone and the cricketing world saw another ugly face of the marathon pacer. But he was reprieved on appeal to the International drugs agencies. Then he tried hard to retain his place, but at the same time indulged in controversies and had fitness problems due to injuries. Then he was dropped again from the squad with the excuse of discipline and is yet to get back.

I can recall that he played his last test match against India in India in 2007 in which Sourav Chandidas Ganguly scored his only double hundred. Shoaib just managed to pick up 1 wicket and sat outside most of the times of that match due to fitness problems. Many questions arose over his inclusion in that match, but he was not seen thereafter in white clothes. In April-May 2009, he was allowed to play ODIs and T20 series against Australia at Abu Dhabi and that became his last series.

Should Akhtar get one last chance to redeem himself? Should Pakistan show interest in a fast bowler who is already 35? Won’t it be a step backward as the fast bowlers can’t go at 40s in modern cricket? Rather it will be better to invest in more strapping young fast bowlers like Mohammad Aamer, who at 17 has done wonderfully well for the country and himself. Pakistan have performed splendidly in Under-19 World cup-2010 for which they became the Runners-Up. So bowlers like Fayazz Butt are available at hands for them. So, Why Shoiab Akhtar again? Who has already lost the support of his team mates? Will he get another chance in the future to play the 2011 World Cup going to be held in the sub-continent?

I don’t think so, but if Kiwi veteran fast bowler Shane Bond, who is also 35, can make a comeback, then why can’t Shoaib Akhtar? This question forces me to rethink about it.