All the Wright moves have been right
Better days are here for Indian cricket
Santhosh S
20-May-2001
Better days are here for Indian cricket. A Test series victory against
the mighty Australians has lifted the morale of the team as well as that
of millions of Indian cricket fans all over the world. It was around the
same time last year that Indian cricket got dragged through its most
infamous chapters - the match-fixing crisis.
The morale of the Indian team was at an all time low. Even the
die-hard fans started feeling disconsolate about the whole affair.
A couple of senior players were banned from the game, there were
serious doubts raised about the commitment of the players at large.
A player of Kapil Dev's reputation was also seriously damaged and he was
forced out of the mantle of being the coach of the Indian team. The
remarkable turn around and the Test series win have changed it all; a
new life has been pumped into Indian cricket. How true it is that
nothing succeeds like success!
If not for the dramatic victory, Indian cricket would have remained in
the doldrums, struggling to cope up with the tragedy that rocked the
nation. How the ICC is dealing with match fixing is another
matter all together. The reality for the average cricket fan is that
the game is still being played with all its honour in India.
It is only prudent to look back at the remarkable Test series win
which has been etched into the history of the game as
one of the best ever. The crowds in Kolkata and Chennai bore the
testimony to the fact that Test match cricket is not on decline, as
many would have us believe.
After having lost the first Test in Mumbai within three days and
having lost the initiative to the Aussies in the second Test match,
India were struggling to match up against the giants from Down Under.
The success of VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh has been trumpeted ever
since; Ganguly has become a stronger captain and there is a certain
professional approach these days in the Indian camp. Good news
indeed.
The likes of Madan Lal, Kapil Dev and Anshuman Gaekwad are cricketers
with immense knowledge of the game, but they were all found to be
wanting in their roles as the Indian team coach. What is it that is so
special about the unsung hero, John Wright? In his playing days he was
a sedate batsman who went about contributing his bit to the cause of
the struggling New Zealand team. He was never a big name in world
cricket before he took charge of the Indian team in November
last year.
Wright brought into the Indian team his vast international
experience and something absolutely new to Indian cricket,
professionalism. He has a no nonsense approach to the game that was
desperately required to revitalize Indian cricket. No favours asked
and none given. You got to earn you place mate, is what Wright seems
to tell his players. It is to Wright's credit that all that goes on in
Indian cricket has not overwhelmed him. Stability is what Indian
cricket wanted and Wright has delivered his goods.
Along with the help of sports scientist/physiotherapist Andrew
Leipus, Wright has gone about changing the face of Indian cricket with
a lot of emphasis on fitness and endurance. The two men have gone
about doing their job without making a noise. The players too have shown
remarkable respect to their coach for his approach to the game. It
was for the whole world to see what a little dose of discipline could
do to the Indian team.
Wright should be given more credit than what he has been given.
He brought about a silent revolution into Indian
cricket. Wright must have been in the thick of things in the decision
to bat Laxman at number three in the Kolkata Test match, which turned
out to be a magical stroke. Still there is a lot of work to be done.
It is only heartening that Wright did spend some time with the
trainees at the National Cricket Academy. Things look bright for the
future. Three cheers to the soft-spoken gentleman from New Zealand.
There could be more cheers and disappointments in the games ahead.
But Wright and the boys need all the support in the coming days. Like
it or not, professionalism is here to stay in Indian cricket. It is
only heartening to know that the players have asked for a system of
contract for themselves. Heartening indeed that the players have
started thinking that they are full time professionals. All the right
things have been happening since Wright took charge of the Indian
team.