Back in the mid-1990s, he was referred to as the Sachin Tendulkar of Africa. Then came oblivion. Daryll Cullinan is back as a coach of the Indian Cricket League (ICL). A day after touching down in Kolkata, ahead of a week-long camp for the Calcutta Tigers team talked about things cricket, including the late coach Bob Woolmer.As he points out, no coach he’s played under —- not even Woolmer — is perfect. “He was a great manager, particularly a very good man-manager in the team. He was a fantastic planner and strategist. But again, in my experience I can say I have never seen a perfect coach,” says Cullinan. The South African team was at its peak in the 1990s when Woolmer was at the helm, and Cullinan was his indispensable batsman. And what about the Tendulkar comparison? “I am surprised why I am compared to Sachin. It’s unbelievable the way he plays. Sachin is a master of technique, he’s a perfect batsman. I don’t know how he managed his long career so well. I just hope he plays forever and ever. Sachin is very special.” The South African outfit Cullinan played in is still considered by many as the best team the Proteas have ever had. But the right-hander doesn’t says he’d rather prefer the current team. “Ours was a very good team, we had some really good players. But the current team is even better. I say this because this team has more all-rounders,” he said.
