Sourav Ganguly, under whose captaincy India started tasting success overseas, did not think Wright's presence will work against India.
When Australia arrived in India for four Tests last September, it was feared that the presence of Greg Chappell, the former controversial India coach, who came as a consultant with the Australian team for the first half of the tour, would play a major role in the Kangaroos' favour. But that wasn't to be.
Similar questions are now raised as India arrived in New Zealand for a grueling six-week tour.
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IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper Sourav Ganguly during a promotional event in the city yesterday. pic/nimesh dave |
Chappell's predecessor, John Wright is New Zealand Cricket's High Performance head.
But Sourav Ganguly, under whose captaincy India started tasting success overseas, did not think Wright's presence will work against India. "John Wright is not going to play on the field," Ganguly, here to judge the Kolkata Knight Riders' cheerleaders' hunt, a reality show to be telecast on NDTV Imagine, said yesterday.
"A coach's job is limited off the field. It is the players, who ultimately have to go out there and do the job."
That did not mean Ganguly did not value a coach's job at all. He complimented current coach Gary Kirsten for his fantastic work, adding that he saw glimpses of Wright, with whom Ganguly had an enjoyable ride as captain, in the South African.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
"A coach is someone, who should always be behind the scenes. And Gary and John are prepared for it," Ganguly, the Knight Riders' captain, said.
"A coach also has to be a friend, which Gary is. He plays a crucial role in the team. Remember, a captain is the most important person of the team and will always be. When a coach starts to dominate, it creates problems.
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It happened with KP and Moores, it happened with (Graeme) Smith and similar things happened in Indian cricket."
While citing concerns over the lack of a warm-up match in New Zealand, Ganguly, who led India to its disastrous tour of the Kiwiland in 2002-03, said "batting" will be the key for India's success over the next six weeks.
