Coach Kirsten - Behind the scenes miracle man

**vish111** · #1 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

**vish111** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

'Cool' Kirsten showing India the way

Indian coach Gary Kirsten's calmness in the dressing room was working wonders for the team, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Thursday. "He's not one of the guys, if we lose two or three wickets in a session, is in a panic, drinking plenty of water, moving here and there," he said.
"He's a calm and cool guy. It helps in making the dressing room atmosphere calm and cool. He's been great so far, and hopefully he'll be the same in the future," he told a news conference.
A buoyant India begin a seven-game one-day series against England from Friday after a comprehensive 2-0 home Test series win over Australia this week, their first over the world champion side for seven years.
Dhoni praised the former South Africa opening batsmen for motivating the players while staying firmly behind the scenes. "Whatever coaches I have gone through, he is very different," the wicketkeeper said.
"He gives plenty of confidence to the players. He's a great motivator and hits at the right moment, and in the right areas. That's very important, to be focussed and speak on the areas where it is really needed."
Kirsten took over in February after a period of turmoil which followed a shock first round World Cup exit in 2007 and the subsequent resignation of Greg Chappell, ending the former Australian skipper's eventful two-year term. He began with a drawn home Test series against native South Africa.
India then recorded their first-ever one-day series win in Sri Lanka. Against Australia, India fielded sharply and appeared to execute their plans smoothly.
"We've improved our fielding, we're trying to improve our running between the wickets," Dhoni said.
Kirsten also faces a big challenge, overseeing the team's transformation with many stalwarts in the twilight of their careers.
Spinner Anil Kumble, Test cricket's third most successful bowler with a tally of 619, and former skipper Saurav Ganguly retired with the Australia series.

source - cricketnext

**vish111** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

I don't feel like a 'foreign' coach: Kirsten

India cricket coach Gary Kirsten is impressed with they way his 'superstar' players have handled all the attention and also revealed how a mature understanding of a different culture made his current stint with the team as a memorable experience. "When people talk about me being a foreign coach I don't feel like a foreign coach because I've integrated my thinking, my philosophies and my style of coaching, along with Paddy's, into how the Indians go about their business. We are a very happy unit," Kirsten said.
The former South African batsman, who replaced Greg Chappell as coach of the Indian team, said it was important to maintain a certain distance with the players.
"Because of the culture barrier, that happens naturally here. In cricket time we're together and outside we go and do our own thing. But I know how tough it is for them. They're a good side and they're good people, but they're almost a paradox in many respects.
"They're so very humble, yet they've got this superstardom status. You could easily see how it could go to their heads. But it doesn't. They're good listeners and they respect your space.
"I can't really speak highly enough of them, and I'd have said that whether we were doing well or not," the former opening batsman was quoted told Daily Telegraph.
Kirsten also said Paddy Upton, the mental conditional coach of the Indian team, was making a big difference in team's development.
"His contribution is vital. He helps players really understand and fine-tune their minds for performance, at the same time he works extensively at the cutting edge of the art of coaching and man-management," Kirsten said. The South African said he along with Paddy has adopted a different approach when it comes to fitness training.
"We're trying to bring in new thinking but we're not going to force them to do it. For instance after a game Paddy might say to those that haven't played: 'I'm running a shuttle school. If you want to come, come'." And they do.
"They're physically different. They must play the game their own way. They play with enormous flair, and they've got great hands on the ball. We've got to encourage that.
Kirsten also felt that the job of the coach was not impose himself on the players and it was important to give freedom to the captain, a thought he learnt from Duncan Fletcher.
"The coach is not the man to sit on the parapets in cricket it's not like soccer. Duncan taught me that. He was a great mentor to me as a player, and now he is as a coach," Kirsten said.
The India coach also spoke highly of current leader of the team -- Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
"He's got exceptional leadership qualities. He's a very streetwise cricketer and likes to think out of the box. That's lovely because I like to think out of the box too. He's just got that winner's mind-set: he truly believes this team will win more games than they'll lose," he said.

source - cricketnext

**vish111** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

I completely agree with this....we should start giving kirsten some credit as well..