Even as India’s international cricket team continues its downward spiral, the domestic circuit is buzzing. With foreign coaches/consultants the hottest property, the latest to join the bandwagon are the Rajasthan Cricket Association, who have hired Bobby Simpson on a three-year contract as cricket advisor. The domestic season is a month away but it’s already got interesting! Simpson, one of the game’s most durable personalities, is an old India hand and served as technical consultant to the national team in the late 1990s. He joins Intikhab Alam (Punjab) and Darren Holder (Maharashtra) as foreigners involved with Ranji teams. And he will be joined in the state set-up by English coach Derek Simmons, who will take charge of the junior side. Disclosing this to The Sunday Express, RCA president Lalit Modi said he’d completed the formalities to hire Simpson. ‘‘His prior commitments prevented him from joining us as coach but he will be advisor to the state team and will work closely with the players and the coaches from time to time.’’ Simpson spent time with the Indian team when Anshuman Gaekwad was coach, during the 1999 World Cup in England. He has since given assistance, in an informal capacity, to the team on the 2003-04 tour of Australia and to Pakistan during their tour Down Under the following winter. Simmons specialises in working with young talent, says RCA secretary Subhash Joshi. ‘‘We thought it would be very beneficial for us if the talent in the state can be groomed under him.’’ While Modi declined to disclose the value of the two contracts, it’s estimated to have cost the RCA a combined Rs 40 lakh. Simpson is expected to come in around October end-November, just before the season starts, to hold a camp for the Ranji team. Interestingly, Rajasthan are yet to name a coach for the Ranji team and another big-name signing cannot be ruled out.
