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Journalism of Courage
The message coming from the Asia Cup, which concluded here yesterday, is that decisions by the three Asian powerhouse countries to opt for foreign coaches as a way of uplifting overall international levels are starting to level out the differences between each other. What has happened is that the three coaches 8212; all from different backgrounds 8212; have brought a level of professionalism that brings out the best of the latent talent.
India8217;s decision to opt for John Wright in 2000, Sri Lanka8217;s appointment of John Dyson, an Australian with experience of general playing diasporas, and Pakistan8217;s success in luring Bob Woolmer away from the ICC8217;s development programme, are showing results.
Woolmer has followed India8217;s rise and in Colombo during the Asia Cup tournament remarked that India8217;s success was an on-going process that others would do well to follow. It had taken four years to get this far and the side had not fully achieved the levels that the coaching system as well as the back-up management were aiming to achieve.
8216;8216;It has to be realised this process doesn8217;t happen overnight8217;8217;, Woolmer said. 8216;8216;They have done remarkably well and it is not due to just one man, but he has to take the credit for what they have achieved. It is the professionalism which is all important and the need to carry this forward.8217;8217;
Woolmer agreed that what Wright has achieved started to pull together during the tour of Australia last southern summer and much of this comes from the way the players have responded to the challenge of playing in Australia and the need to match the Australians.
As others see it, this also underlines the importance of a tour of Australia and of how playing the Australians lifts the levels of consistency, leading to better performances and increasing the competitive edge. The problem here is that India need to rekindle this drive and playing in Amsterdam in a tournament involving Pakistan and Australia is probably the right way to attack the ICC Champions Trophy in England un September, when the weather is more settled and pitches are better prepared.
As the Sri Lankans showed during the Asia Cup, any series involving the Australians creates that mental awareness. It is also performances against the Australians on which their form is going to be judged.
Sri Lanka in a sense showed this 8212; as did India against Pakistan in March and April 8212; when they returned from a two-match Test series and went straight into the Asia Cup a stronger, mentally tougher and prepared side.
Like Wright, Dyson, from a tough Australian background, has started to build the side into a competitive unit despite the politics involved in team selection where there is a type of dichotomy that adds to the problem of team harmony. Dyson, it was claimed after the 3-0 Test series home defeat to the Aussies earlier in the year, was on his way out, to be sacked before the Asia Cup and ICC Champions Trophy. He and Dav Whatmore had done nothing to improve the team8217;s ability to win matches.
Handicapped by a conservative captain in Hashan Tillakeratne, Dyson was under pressure to build confidence and professionalism in the team. It has taken a brief tour of Australia and the Asia Cup to point the way forward.
There is no more talk of his being sacked: there is a new belief and commitment as well as competitive edge and with this comes the professionalism in the side. Miracles take a little while, but the results are starting to show and a Test series victory over South Africa looms.
Woolmer8217;s own canoe in Pakistan8217;s choppy waters is one where he is starting to get the feel of the team and his diplomatic approach is slowly taking effect. Just how much effect will become evident in Holland and England during the triangular series and ICC Champions Trophy.
