'The older guys worry me'- Jennings

Ray Jennings, the former South Africa coach, has warned of sweeping changes in his new side, the Bangalore Royal Challengers, and voiced concern over the fitness and motivation levels of the "older guys" in the team. "If the top guys don't perform, it's time to move on," he said.

Jennings said he was surprised at the "balance of ages" and composition of the Bangalore team, and said the strategy that went into picking the team early this year was not well-planned. "When you picked, you would have known that Dravid, Kumble and Kallis might retire soon; the whole Challenger side might be retired in three years' time."

A turnaround, by getting the "right players in the right positions", Jennings said, would take some time to complete.

Bangalore, led by Rahul Dravid, appointed Jennings as coach after finishing seventh out of eight teams in the inaugural IPL this year. Their chief executive was sacked midway through the tournament and Martin Crowe was replaced by Ray Jennings as coach last month.

In between, Vijay Mallya, the Indian industrialist who owns the Bangalore franchise, openly criticised the composition of the team, tagged as a Test side, comprising players such as Dravid, Wasim Jaffer, Jacques Kallis, and Anil Kumble, who quit international cricket on Sunday.

"The older guys worry me," Jennings told Cricinfo. "IPL is quick and intense for six weeks. They worry me from the point of injury and motivation levels. I am not surprised at the quality of the Test players (selected last year) but the balance of the ages. In three years, many could be retired. To me, that doesn't make sense."

Jennings said he would not be awed by the star players in the side and would focus on getting the best performances from them. "If I am not going to replace, then I am going to be replaced," he said. "I don't look at the names but the performances on the field. Name is one thing but I need a guy who needs to make the owner proud on the field. If the top guys can't do it, then it's time to move on."

Asked why the side failed last time, Jennings blamed it on the senior players. "The team lacked energy, commitment and skills. If you don't enjoy each other's company it must be a long six weeks. I will point the fingers at the senior players. They are the one who must have run that type of the culture in the side."

Meeting Dravid Ray Jennings is planning to meet Rahul Dravid to discuss the future of his captaincy and role in the side. "If Dravid is not the best captain, between us we will have to work it out," Jennings said. "If he is the best guy to open the batting, that's where he must bat. I met him for a day in May. We will sit together again and see the best role he can play. I want the best for the team. "I am going to ask the players one question: are they a Test team or are they cricketers?" he said. "If they are cricketers, let's go out and whip a few backsides. The old guys have to understand the challenges. All the guys have taken a hiding and the owner is upset."

Jennings expressed concern over the availability of players from South Africa and Australia for the entire duration of the 2009 edition of IPL, and said he was not yet sure about his team's budget for the one-month players' transfer window that starts on December 15. "You can't keep spending the money. You have a three-year contract in place. I see myself working with the majority of the existing set-up for some time," he said.

Jennings also spoke about the intensity of South African players, following comments from Dale Steyn, the fast bowler, that the IPL was a paid vacation for some cricketers. "The players have to understand that they can't relax else they shouldn't take their salary. Kallis and Boucher have worked with me before and they know I won't take nonsense in that area.

"I am not coming here to see the Indian guys and the foreigners going separate ways. They have to work together. I am going to make sure that I am in charge of a single unit. It's not just about hitting balls, it about mixing with people; it's about how they conduct themselves off the field."

Jennings was firm about his intolerance for any indiscipline in the team. "The same rules apply as they play in Test cricket. In some ways, more so. The salary per ball is higher here than in any other cricket. I can't have a cricketer getting drunk before a game or any thing of that sort. I am going to challenge players if I feel a lack of intensity."

Despite the poor performances last year, Jennings was confident of turning things around. "Throughout my whole life I have taken sides from nothing to something. I wouldn't want to be in for a six-week period. I want to be part of the Challengers for some period of time. It's going to be the biggest challenge in my life."