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Journalism of Courage
Having worked extensively with the Indian cricket team, Sandy Gordon has a greater insight into their minds than most. And his sports-psychologist prescription for the team after a season they8217;d rather forget: Don8217;t even think about cricket.
8216;8216;There could be the temptation to go back to the nets and the gym but I believe that mentally it could harm them8217;8217;, Gordon told The Indian Express. 8216;8216;They should instead look to ease their way back into the system as the season nears and recharge their batteries.8217;8217;
According to Gordon, the players did not have technical problems; the real reason was in the mind. 8216;8216;They haven8217;t lost their ability to bat or bowl. The only way to win games is to execute the individual as well and the team game as planned.8217;8217;
Gordon also blames the excess burden of expectation on the team as another reason for the cracks within.
8216;8216;The problem is that everyone thinks that this team is better than they actually are. It is not a realistic approach,8221; he says. 8216;8216;This team has not won anything; for me it is a generation lost. This team cannot sustain pressure, every time they have to go for the kill they fail. They are talented but they aren8217;t so good.8217;8217;
So what does this team lack? 8216;8216;Work ethic. It is just not there. And it is not a team thing, it8217;s an individual thing to be consistent.8217;8217;
Dismissing skipper Sourav Ganguly8217;s lack of form as a reason for the team8217;s bad showing, Gordon said that though it affects a team marginally, great teams cover for temporary lapses in form.
8216;8216;I think that8217;s an excuse really. Look at the way the Australian team covered up for Mark Taylor when he was out of form. This Indian team has a lot of leaders, it is just a matter of the other players stepping up to the plate8217;8217;, he says.
With John Wright8217;s departure, Gordon also believes that the next coach who comes in should have a lot more support from the management. 8216;8216;John Wright has appealed several times to the BCCI for a full time manager since 2002, but it8217;s fallen on deaf ears.8217;8217;
John Buchanan, he points out, does very little by way of management duties. He only strategises and plans for the team. 8216;8216;This team needs a full time manager who can manage the team and let the coach just work on taking the team to the next level.8217;8217;
