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I can be a good coach: Jones
NEW DELHI : Former Australian batsman Dean Jones is the
latest name discussed for the job of Indian coach. He
speaks his mind on everything related to Team India.
 Q.
Your name, along with several others like Greg Chappell
and Dav Whatmore, is being mentioned as a possible
successor to John Wright. Are you interested?
A. Yes, I have coaching aspirations. I have played and
travelled widely in India. I know most of the past and
current players as well as the officials. I also get
along well with them. I can do a good job with the
Indian team, if given an opportunity.
Q. What is your honest assessment of the current Indian
team?
A. I think the team can improve in all aspects of the
game. I would be looking at improving the fitness levels
of the players, and they can be better prepared for a
series.
Q. What sort of preparations would you suggest?
A. To start with, they can do their homework on the
opposition better. I don't think that is the case now.
Not enough planning is going into their preparations for
a series. And mind you, the planning has to be done well
in advance.
Q. Long-term planning?
A. Yes. For example, the Australians already have scouts
in England to assess the English team and their players
- almost three months before the Ashes. The feedback
they get will be analysed and digested by the coaching
and support staff before it is presented to the players.
That's the sort of preparation I am talking about. In
football, a top team like Manchester United does it then
why not India?
Q. Do you expect long term planning from the BCCI?
A. When I play a golf shot, no matter how well I have
hit the ball, it is always a bit of a gamble as to how
and where the ball will land. The BCCI, I am sure, has
its own way of doing things. If the Board officials are
convinced that the measures I suggest will be good for
the team, I see no reason why they would hesitate to
adopt them. After all, everyone in India wants their
team to do well.
Q. The BCCI is not known to spend heavily in developing
infrastructure.
A. The structure I want to bring in will not cost a lot
of money. Most of it exists. All it requires is better
organisation.
Q. For a country as big as India and it's population,
the talent pool seems to be very small with not more
that 20 players to choose from at the international
level. Does that worry you?
A. That's a worry for all teams other than Australia. I
reckon only Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist can
consider themselves as automatic choices in the
Australian line-up.
Even Gilchrist, who hasn't scored an ODI hundred in the
past 18 months, has Brad Haddin breathing down his neck.
Every player should be under pressure to perform.
Q. Age is fast catching up with top Indian players.
Five-six of them are approaching the end of their
careers. Do you reckon there will be turbulence ahead?
A. I don't look at it that way. The Tendulkars and
Kumbles still have a lot to offer. They may be
approaching 35, but mentally they are no more than 27.
If they can mange their bodies and work hard on the
physical aspects of their game, they can prolong their
careers. Great players in every sport have achieved that
and there is no reason why Indian greats can't do the
same. |
