Wanted: Richard Hadlee as India's bowling coach

Richard Hadlee is the latest big name to be linked to the as-yet-non-existent post of Indian bowling coach. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has entrusted John Wright - Hadlee's former brother-in-arms - with the task of broaching the subject when he returns to New Zealand.

Hadlee was initially approached by the Indian board during the tour of New Zealand late last year, but his job as New Zealand's chairman of selectors - the three-year contract ended recently, and has not been renewed - came in the way of his accepting the offer.

Fanie de Villiers is understood to have been the BCCI's first choice, but his marital problems ruled him out of contention. Terry Alderman and John Lever were other names mentioned, in what has turned out to be a futile search thus far. Mind you, the likes of Zaheer Khan, currently training with Dennis Lillee in Chennai, would only benefit from someone like Hadlee taking charge - nothing like a legend, or two, to fine-tune one's bowling.