During Australia’s most recent online cricket id provider Twenty20 International match against Bangladesh, in which they were bowled out for 62 runs, I expressed why I believe they should replace Justin Langer as their head coach and shared my opinion on why this should happen. It is interesting to note that a user named Cong Du Nguyen commented with his viewpoint, which drew my attention right away:
As you can see, he was eager to point out that Australia, with the exception of a few of coaches, does not have a sufficient number of skilled local coaches. Having said that, the circumstance is the same in a number of other nations in addition to Australia, which is what brought it to my attention. If we take a look at the situation in the context of the world community, we can see that it is not only applicable to Sri Lanka but also to Bangladesh. Even if it may be too much to say, the situation is pretty comparable even with England. Do you not believe that they have players with more experience competing on the world stage than Silverwood does?
The Role of Commentator, Not Coach
Possible reasons for the shortage that we are experiencing a proclivity for analyzing games from the sidelines rather than putting on the uniform and fighting for one’s country on the field. Unfortunately, starting a career in commentating is no more something that can only be done after a player retires from the sport; nowadays, it can be done even while the player is still active. Here is a well-known illustration of this: Jemimah Rodrigues, who was just 20 years old when she made her debut as a commentator in The Hundred League:
Unfortuitously, she is not the only young person engaging in such behavior at this point in time. There are just too many for one person to even attempt to count them all. When Dinesh Karthik started working for Sky Sports a few months ago, I had a very similar reaction. I was pretty excited for him. One cricket player who is still in the running for national team selection has decided to pursue a career in commentary instead.
It’s the Coaches, Not the Commentators Who Win.
As I was saying previously, the situation in the coaching field is now quite precarious. Before things go further into a downward spiral, this aspect of cricket need immediate attention from the cricket community. While I was writing this, I came across a tweet which said that India’s head coach Ravi Shastri is considering leaving the squad after they compete in the Twenty20 International World Cup this year. If what I’ve heard is true, another prominent coach in the world of international cricket will soon be leaving their position.
At this point in time, international cricket is in need of coaches who are able to construct excellent players and create a platform for potential to thrive. If they don’t show up, cricket on the world stage will never be the same…
Conclusion
Please allow me to end with this straightforward statement, which is more important than anything else I have to say: “International cricket is seeking for its next Rahul Dravid, not Dinesh Kartik.” International cricket is looking for coaches, not pundits. Through the medium of this blog, I would want to encourage international players to direct their attention on the professional development of the coaches, for the sole purpose of preserving our cherished sport.