What Is A Coach There For?

Pakistan's techno-savvy coach Bob Woolmer believes international cricket should allow for better on-ground communication between a captain and coach.

"You have to allow this contribution from the coach. Otherwise what is hethere for? To pick  balls, lay down the stumps, give catching practice and ensure that drinks and towels are in place?

"You can't deny a coach from communicating better with his team. You also save time instead of sending fielders withgloves and water bottles on the field to put your message across," said the high-profile coach.

Woolmer, a former coach of South Africa, was the first to send captain Hansie Cronje on the field with ear plugs toremain in touch during the 1999 World Cup.

The International Cricket Council has now put a stop to such sort of communication between the captain and thecoach. But Woolmer says the device has not been banned and the coach can still communicate with the players if not thecaptain.

"There is a loophole. The device is not banned. The coach can still communicate with his players if not the captain.Everyone talks about Cronje but not many know that Allan Donald also had the earphone on in that game. Everyone pickedon Cronje. He used to indicate by just tapping on his head and we would communicate," Woolmer disclosed.

Woolmer, the original lap-top coach, is given the credit for bringing in technology in the game at a time when the gamewas still rooted to its old-fashioned tactics.

"Ironically, when I was called the lap-top coach, I didn't know how to operate. I took a 21-day crash course to atleast learn how to feed database," he recalled. 

"The South African board had said they wouldn't allow a scorer in the dressing room. If I wanted to explain a graph toAndrew Hudson, I wanted a more easy way to communicate my point.

"I remember I had gone to Australia with the South African team when in Queensland, I met John Buchanan. He hadeverything in place. I was impressed. I went into the computer room and learned all of their methodology.

"Then I got in touch with Franz, Hansie's elder brother, and he got an Italian banker on the board and we started  developing it," the Englishman said. 

Woolmer said he needed to use computer and modern technology to explain his point to players to improve their  winning chances with the game becoming competitive by each day.

"I realised we needed it and the use of computer and technology was so much unavoidable. I needed wagon wheelreference to put my point across to the players.

"I now didn't need to watch the video footage all night and flush out the small bit of information to put it across.  The game is becoming competitive. A team's chances for winning are being improved. All this made me develop my methods," he said.

Woolmer said he considered Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq as one of thetruly greats of modern day cricket.

"Inzamam is one of the truly great batsmen of modern times. There was anoccasion two years back when coaches were asked to name cricketers who had thatspecial ability.

"Inzamam was one of the four cricketers to make the grade along withJacques Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara," said Woolmer.

"He has the ability but in my latest association with him I have alsofound he is mentally very, very tough. He can withstand any pressure on acricket field."

Woolmer also described his present association with the rest of the Pakistanteam and how their cricketers were sensitive to minor criticism.

"I didn't realise they were looking at me as a coach when I was therefor the seminar earlier this year. Shaharayar Khan (the PCB chief) then e-mailedme and the discussions started.

"I realised the Pakistani cricketers had faced a lot of criticism inrecent times. They are also very sensitive to criticism. For example MohammadSami was to play for Kent. His name sounds like salami. So everyone used to callhim 'Chicken Salami'. Once I addressed him so in the nets and he took exceptionto it, he thought it was derogatory. I had to sit with him and tell him that inEngland no sooner you become a part of a group, a nickname is given. Heunderstood it and then we could move on to our cricket."

Woolmer said he always tried to impress on the players the importance ofbeing mentally tough.

"The cricketers not only have to train for their fitness, they also haveto be mentally very strong. I put it across to boys that they can't afford tohave negative thoughts.

"It would not help in life. The media is doing their job, you do yours.You have a unique position, a distinction among millions of people to play foryour country," said the coach who has the reputation of letting the teamand individuals break their barriers.

"There is no point looking back or resting on your achievements. Youneed to break the barriers. If I was coaching a Tendulkar, I would ask him toset Don Bradman as his benchmark. You have to strive to improve.

"Similarly as a team, you can't afford to have high ups and low downs onthe field. There ought to be a level. That's the area I intend to develop in sixmonths' time for Pakistan."

Woolmer feels India presently has the same kind of balance which South Africahad in 1999 - almost perfect.

"Hansie Cronje had the right eleven in 1999. It was almost a perfectone-day team. India also has got their balance right."

It was Woolmer who had predicted the teams would score 300 runs consistentlyin the times to come way back in 1996. Now it is happening in every secondone-day international.

"It was not a feeling. It was based on calculation. There is a feelingabout technology, bio-mechanism to get teams stronger. New goals are being setconstantly."

Woolmer is not inclined to treat himself as the superstar of modern cricketcoaching. If there is any such honour, he felt, it must go to Bob Simpson ofAustralia.

"After I left South Africa in 1999, I got associated with developingnations and enjoyed the stint tremendously. At 56, I am still learning. I don'thave much time. When I am 60 plus, I can only be a consultant.

"In my view, Bob Simpson is the grandfather of all coaches. He took overan Australian team in shambles in the 80s and completely turned it around.Australia are still holding on to his methods and they are still retaining theirtop position in the world."

PTI