Wright, Leipus to stay till 2003
Faisal Shariff in Bangalore
Indian coach John Wright and physio Andrew Leipus will continue in their present posts until the end of the 2003 World Cup, to be held in South Africa.
Announcing the decision, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya laid to rest the suspense of the past few weeks about the future of the coach and physio, but added that their performances will be monitored closely and reviewed from series to series.
The decision comes after a series of meetings, over the past few days, with the coach, physio, captain Saurav Ganguly, chairman of selectors Chandu Borde and senior players.
Dalmiya argued that there was enormous talent in the country, vide its wins in the U-15 and U-19 world championships and also the U-17 Asian championships (there is no world championship for U-17).
Asked why, against that background, the Indian seniors failed so consistently, Dalmiya said that accountability was lacking, and that everyone from the board president to the rawest recruit had to own up to their share of responsibility.
He felt that there was a gap between the U-19 level and the senior team, which could be bridged by a regular India A squad. “When a boy comes in to the highest level, he is without exposure and finds it tough to play overseas. If he travels all over the world as part of an A team before playing in the senior team it will help him immensely,” Dalmiya said.
Fitness was the other area which needed immediate attention, the board president argued. “We have noticed new boys coming in and breaking down. We have noticed that there is no obligation on the part of the associations or the players themselves to look after their fitness.”
The coach and physio have therefore been told that it will be their responsibility to see that the players meet the fitness standards set by them. Further, the selection committee has been told not to pick any player, whether in the current team or on the fringe of selection, if he fails to meet the stipulated standards.
The board, on the advice of the players and coach, has further decided that since Leipus is busy with the physiotherapy needs of the team, a physical trainer will be added to the squad before the team sets out on its next tour, to the West Indies in March 2002.
Another physical trainer will work with the fringe players who fail to make it to the team. These players will be monitored by the trainer and will be put on a crash program. It will be mandatory, further, for all state associations to employ a physical trainer for their teams.
Those players who do not form part of the touring party but are on the fringes of the team will be compelled to take part in intensive physical training camps and will further have to play in all the domestic fixtures.
Dalmiya further said that given India's tight schedule right up to the 2003 World Cup, a rotation policy has become a must.
Simulating similar conditions for the players to practise in for overseas tours is another aspect highlighted by Dalmiya. India will be playing in the West Indies with the Dukes ball, while they will play with the Kookaburra ball in the World Cup. Both types of cricket balls will be made available to the players for practise. The board meanwhile is drawing up plans to try and duplicate the sort of pitches prevailing abroad, in a bid to provide practise for the team ahead of tours.
The senior players have been told to perform more consistently, and also set examples for the new players to emulate. The selection committee has been told to look closely at players who are in the team, and drop anyone who lacks motivation and seems to be playing as a ritual instead of giving of his best. This will be made clear to the newcomers as well right from the start.
“This is not an attempt to go after the players but to tell them that they have the talent to perform. If they were not talented then it is okay, but if there is talent there is no reason why it should not be translated into results,” Dalmiya said.
In another measure, Dalmiya said that the contract system would come into force for the players from February 2002.
Dalmiya also elaborated that there will be complete interaction between the players and the board at all times, and their needs would be looked after at all costs.
“After all, they are the end-products of the system.”
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