My first weeks in India

My first couple of weeks in India have been outstanding. I was fully expecting some things to differ from my expectations and I was hoping to learn from those differences and avoid disappointment because of the expectations that have been created by my own life and career.

That has not happened so far - I'm still waiting! So far, all the unexpectedness has been extremely positive. I organised a pre-tour camp before South Africa arrived in India and I asked all the players to bring no cricket kit, none whatsoever. It was an important time to do other things.

It would have been easy to feel frustrated when this camp was cancelled but I did not. I am just the coach and there are many aspects of business and peoples' lives over which I have no control, and wish to have no control. There were good reasons for the dates of the camp to be changed and, as it transpired, we did everything we wanted to do in Chennai before the first Test began.

I was happy, my coaching partner Paddy Upton was happy and so were the players and our bosses at the BCCI. So everything that Paddy and I were keen to do was accomplished, the players enjoyed the time and nothing was lost. My coaching philosophy does not need to happen in my time-frame, as long as it happens.

Results are everything in professional sport. And sometimes they can be nothing, too. Results determine the short to medium term future of players and coaches and the longer term future for administrators, but sometimes it is crucial for all of those directly involved in professional sport to take a small step back from the importance of next week's game in order to ensure the best results for the next year or two, or five.

It has been fantastic to have Paddy on board for the start of my time with India and I have no doubt it will have a significant bearing on India's long-term prospects. Having said that, I cannot lie. Just like every Indian fan, I want to win EVERY game! Paddy and I may advocate the long-term view, but we are both winners and will stop at nothing to make sure we win next week!