‘Success has to be nurtured’

Shaun Williams stopped his team before they crossed the boundary ropes. The former Victoria and Northern Territory’s player and now head coach of the Maharashtra Ranji squad,pulled his team into a huddle before sharing a few minutes of encouragement.

Williams is the only foreign coach in the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy season,and with his side on the brink of relegation,the Australian was hoping to make amends after a long day. As the backs began the rise,Williams’ gestures became more animated,with the odd pat thrown in. By the end of his five-minute meeting,high fives signaled the dispersal. With smiles plastered all around,a visibly happy Williams followed the merry lot into the dressing room.

Williams has a wealth of coaching experience under his belt —- he coached Canberra Comets and assisted Dav Whatmore in the Bangladesh national team — and is hoping to turn the tide for Maharashtra in the coming years.

“It is a really young squad. Playing at a really high level of cricket for a team so young has both its positives and negatives. The downside is what we witnessed today. But it is great that the kids are getting an opportunity at the highest domestic level available in India,” Williams told Sportline.

Dav’s suggestion
After his contract with Bangladesh Cricket Board ended,Whatmore had suggested to Williams to try his hand at coaching an Indian Ranji team. “Dav recommended me to try out Maharashtra. There was a vacancy here just after my contract at Bangladesh came to an end in 2008. I was thinking of working for the ICC,but Dav got me thinking about this job. I was excited about it soon after,” the 39-year old said.

Williams has been with the team for a little over 18 months. Although it isn’t a squad that he has single-handedly built,he believes that the future for Maharashtra will take a route for the better. “This is the group that I inherited a year and a half ago. I do not mean that in a negative way,but it is just that I was given these guys to work with. I didn’t choose them. The door is not shut on anyone,” he said,adding,“In the current Maharashtra team,we believe if we stick with the right players,we will develop a fantastic squad. The youngsters will hopefully come good.”

Well researched
The former left-handed opening batsman did his research on the state side before signing the three-year contract and he knew he had his task cut out. “If you look at their history,they haven’t had a huge amount of success. But success again,has to be nurtured. It cannot happen overnight. You cannot click your fingers and hope for success. One must also realise that winning isn’t possible all the time. When I signed up I knew I was in for a bumpy ride. But I do have complete job satisfaction. I am very committed to my job,” he added.

Based out of Pune,Williams claims that although there is a language barrier,the universal language of cricket will see him through successfully. “Language was a problem even in Bangladesh,but I’ve learnt to deal with it. The players get the message,good or bad. Cricket and its technique is a universal language. I’ve picked up a few words of Marathi in one and a half years,but I’m sure I could do much better by the time my three-year contract comes to an end.”