Does the Indian cricket team need a fielding coach? Yes, but the attitude to this critical area of the game must change. As Jonty Rhodes, arguably the best fielder to grace the game will say, you have to enjoy it thoroughly to succeed.

Yesterday's spunky performance against Australia in Nagpur notwithstanding, the grey areas cannot be ignored.
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A coach is no David Copperfield of magical fame. In fact, India's fielding worries may not have anything to do with the coach. It could well be that the fitness levels of players don't match up to international standards. And fitness is sure related to fielding.

Robin Singh got the boot as fielding coach, but has the Board questioned the coaching staff about the team's lack of alacrity on the field? The Board only recently appointed a fitness trainer for the team with Paddy Upton in charge of "mental conditioning". Does this mean the Indian team had no fitness trainer despite the presence of Upton, who served in Hansie Cronje's team as fitness expert? If so, it's disgraceful.

According to grapevine, Kirsten had a role to play in Robin Singh's sacking while there was no official reprimand for his mate Upton, who released a document to the players before the Champions Trophy in which he encouraged them to indulge in sexual activities in order to raise performance levels. In another era in Indian cricket, he would have been sent packing.

But Upton's presence could well be invaluable to the team and his mate Kirsten who recommended Upton be added on to the support staff when he took over in 2008.