Geoff Marsh to assist Wright before Aussie tour of India

The newly appointed cricket consultant and former Aussie opening batsman Geoff Marsh would be assisting India's first foreign coach John Wright of New Zealand during the conditioning camp before the Australian tour of India in February next.

Speaking to PTI here today, Marsh, said "right now I am gathering information about the domestic cricket in India and I would be assisting John (Wright) during the conditioning camp prior to the Australian series as well."

"My immediate plan is to watch some more junior cricket and submit a report to the Indian cricket board (BCCI) on December 22 before I go home for Christmas. However, I will be back here to assist the Indian coach and prepare the hosts for the big test against the formidable Aussies," he added.

Marsh, who resigned as the Australian team coach recently to take up the consultant job with the BCCI, said the essence of coaching was to let the wards play their natural game and not kill the talent by changing their style and technique. "Some coaches feel that they have to say something when they see their trainees playing which at times upsets the mind frame of a boy and demoralise him. The coach should be able to make minor adjustments to the existing style and technique," he added.

Marsh, who is in touch with former Test cricketers like Dilip Vengsarkar and Hanumant Singh, was all praise for the National Cricket Academy (NCA) at Bangalore. "The NCA is an 'A' grade one and it is good to know that BCCI is planning to start four more", he added.