The New Zealand series is more than three months away, but John Wright's campaign has begun. The strategies, statistics and video footage is being collated for 'Mission Australasia' -- the twin series against New Zealand, at home, and Australia, Down Under, later this year.
Attending the India 'A' preparatory camp in Bangalore as consultant coach, Wright is marking out the young guns who could graduate to the senior side.
In an interview with Faisal Shariff, he chalks out the blue print for the Indian team over the next three months and discusses the home advantage factor.
How has the Indian 'A' camp been so far?
I have been here at the camp; Sandeep [Patil] is in charge. He is running it and doing a good job. It's been good working with him. Madan Lal was here with Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar; so that has been really good. It's heading in the correct direction and it is a good opportunity just to stand and watch quietly from a distance; just see how the boys are trying and observe the individual's approach. So it is really good and, hopefully, they will be very well-prepared by the time they get going.
Do you think the young cricketers -- under-16 and under-17 -- should play one-day cricket?
I think the under-15 tournament in Bangalore is really good. It is 100 overs for each side, and that is a very good format. When you play you may generally get bored of one-day cricket, and you need an education also in the other types of cricket, which is Test and first class cricket. So, somewhere down the line the players have to be given that opportunity.
I haven't thought about it to the extent that they shouldn't play one-day cricket, but I feel very impressed with the format out here [in Bangalore] where you have to get stuck in and bat out 100 overs out.
I was just talking to one or two of the coaches and was surprised to hear that some of the sides could not play out their 100 overs. But I think somewhere down the line it is good to stay and bat over 100 overs.
You have seen a lot of Indian batsmen. Do you think they are on a staple diet of one-day cricket? Their approach of playing too many strokes too soon. What is your observation?
We do play a very natural game. But I think we can play both forms of the game successfully. I have always thought that patience is one of the biggest things in Indian batting. Indian players are natural strikers of the cricket ball. One of the biggest skills of playing the longer version of cricket is the ability to work the ball around in the field and get singles. You tend to take the pressure off that way.
I think one-day cricket is exciting and we have results; that is the way cricket has evolved. What we need is a balance in our batting order, where you have players who can hang around while others can express themselves on the field.
Talking about Indian cricketers, I don't think they are on a staple diet of one-day cricket. You need to have the technique right and have got to use it when you play. You must always encourage all-round players. The greatest batsmen in cricket have all been stroke-makers. History shows that.
John, not an ideal way to start your campaign for the season ahead, having lost Adrian Le Roux. How big is the loss?
I must say great. He did a very good job. It's his decision obviously, though we wanted him to stay. We respect his decision. It came as a surprise, like a bolt from the blue, but we will find a good replacement. He is helping us find someone. We are working with Mr. Dalmiya, because it is a key role for us. We made progress in that area and we want to continue that progress.
A tough tour of Australia beckons; before that the New Zealanders come to India. What is the blue print you have drawn out for the Indian team?
Currently, it is under discussion. We will sit down and have a planning session. I have spoken to Sourav Ganguly and Mr. Dalmiya. So, we will put together a program and during the month of August we will start our training.
We will really concentrate hard on fitness, fielding and, probably, running between the wickets. The training program will include a fitness camp, which will be pretty high intensity, to check where everyone is fitness-wise. We have to keep a check on fitness, as some of the guys are overseas and some are resting. So we will use that time to fine-tune the fitness levels of all the players. Later, we will have a one-week break and another camp of shorter duration after that. In that camp we will start getting into the nets and work on the cricketing skills.
It's in the planning stage at this time and it will have to go to the Board. I will speak to Mr. Dalmiya about it. Cricket will start in September really, so we have got a good window of opportunity to be fresh and fit. It's probably for the first time after the Australians came here that we have this kind of a build-up.
New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has expressed concern about the kind of wickets he could get in India. Do you think every home side should take advantage of home conditions, or should it be a fair game, despite the fact that we got really underprepared wickets in New Zealand?
There is always a home advantage in the climatic reasons more than anything else. Players are used to playing in the home environment. I would say that Stephen's concerns are unfounded. The types and character of wickets are different from country to country. We will have good wickets for cricket here; there will be an equal balance. Obviously, wickets will turn towards the later stage of the game, which is a fact of life. During the tour of Zimbabwe, here in 2001, the wickets had been good and there were some good scores. But it's down to your ability to play the kind of bowling that you are facing. One of the main reasons that we had such a great series against Australia was because the matches were played on good cricket wickets.
You must be very keen to get back at New Zealand after what India went through...
Well, we have put that behind us. We didn't cope with the unusual conditions there. What we want to do is play good cricket. If we end up doing that then I don't care who the opposition is; New Zealand or Australia. We play attractive cricket and are a good team to watch. I think that is not only good for our supporters but also for world cricket in general.
Are you disappointed with the performances of Yuvraj Singh and Virendra Sehwag on the English county circuit?
Well, I am not completely updated with their performances, but sometimes it takes time to get into the flow of county cricket. They have to adjust to the extra grind of county cricket; they have to stay out and be disciplined, more than anything else.
I think whatever happens, it will be a good experience for them; obviously, they need to get runs.
Sometimes, you have knuckle down and see what is the problem and sort it out. Whether they get runs or not, they have done outstandingly well for India and I am sure that they will learn from the experience.
Australia's coach, John Buchanan, has been advocating the use of ambidextrous cricketers -- batsmen who bat left and right; bowlers who can bowl spin and fast with either hand. What are your thoughts on that?
I feel certain things will evolve: reverse sweep will become more common and people will have it in their armoury more naturally. People will be able to throw with two hands. I am not sure if we can come back here and answer the Australians; we will be seeing people changing from left to right.
Cricket is such a technical game from a point of view that when it comes to batting or bowling, it takes a lot of mastery from just one side. Everyone plays to their strengths whether they are left or right-handed.
I think John [Buchanan] is doing well; it will help. It is like playing rugby by kicking with both the feet; but, of course, you have a preferred foot.
I think it has come in a new area and, maybe, from the human species' point of view, genetically; who knows.
But I wouldn't want to watch Sachin Tendulkar bat left-handed against the Aussies this year.
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