India have got their balance right: Woolmer

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 he is there for? Is he there only 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 with gloves 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 to remain in touch with the coach in the dressing room during the 1999 World Cup.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has now put a stop to such sort of communication between the captain and the coach.

But Woolmer says the devise has not been banned and the coach can still communicate with the players if not the captain.

"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 picked on 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 game was 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 at least 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 to Andrew 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 had everything 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 chance 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 wheel reference to put my point across to 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 the truly greats of modern day cricket.

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

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

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

Woolmer also described his present association with the rest of the Pakistan team and how their cricketers were sensitive to little criticisms.

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

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

Woolmer said he always tries to impress on the players the importance of being mentally tough.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Woolmer is not inclined to treat himself as the superstar of modern cricket coaching. If there is any such honour, he feels, it must go to Bob Simpson of Australia.

"After I left South Africa in 1999, I got associated with developing nations and enjoyed the stint tremendously. At 56, I am still learning. I don't have 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 over an 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 their top position in the world."