Cricket: An Indian summer shining on Wright

By STEPHEN BRENKLEY

If anything is more surprising than John Wright's appointment as India's first foreign coach, it is that he still has the job.

When he began 21 months, 25 tests - the 26th began at the Oval yesterday - and 50 one-dayers ago, any prediction of such longevity was probably accompanied by a belief in fairies.

But in his methodical, dedicated style, former New Zealand captain Wright has shattered taboos and helped to guide a team of manifold natural talent towards proper achievement.

World Cup winners in 1983, one of the great sporting shocks, they had gone nine limited-overs finals without winning.

At Lord's in July they altered that spectacularly by chasing 326 from 146 for five. They now stand on the verge of something still more historic, their first test series win away from the subcontinent for 16 years.

Wright is taking virtually none of the credit. His way of assessing his role is to talk himself out of it. He has a droll, laconic, thoroughly decent manner, the product of small-town New Zealand and a life of big-time cricket.

"It's the players, they're the ones," he said, anticipating the climax of this smashing series with quiet relish.

"If you think you can captain the side and you are the coach, you have got things seriously wrong. The captain is the main man and the players are the most important people.

"Good players don't need coaching. They get there anyway. You put your point of view across, sometimes stronger one day than the next, but the captain has to be happy with the side he takes on the field.

"If Tendulkar and Ganguly and Dravid want to bat and you think they shouldn't, I don't think that's entirely sensible. They're the guys who've got to do it, so wish them good luck and retire to the viewing room."

Wright might, of course, have had in mind the third test at Headingley. India, or at least their captain, Sourav Ganguly, opted to bat on a pitch which was never less than sporting and on the first morning was potentially lethal to batsmen's ambitions.

"The total of 628 which we made was not the figure which sprang to mind straight away," Wright admitted.

He and Ganguly have worked together throughout.

"I'm trying to coax him into enjoying fielding more," said Wright, referring lightly to Ganguly's notorious disregard for that part of the job.

Whatever Wright claims for himself - and it seems on the low side of not much - India have undoubtedly progressed during his tenure.

Their one-day capriciousness is no longer so extreme, and their stirring comeback in the NatWest Series final at Lord's also suggested that they have a team for the future as well as the present.

The team have now won four tests away since Wright took over, but a series victory has proved elusive.

"When we play in India, wherever it is, we simply believe that we are going to win. That belief is huge. We know we are playing on pitches where we can take 20 wickets," Wright said.

He could have been out of the job barely before he had started. His second series as coach, in spring last year, saw India pitted at home against Australia, who duly easily won the first match.

When Steve Waugh enforced the follow-on in the second it looked all over for India in the series and Wright in the job, whatever his contract said.

Then VVS Laxman played one of the greatest test innings, India took a lead, bowled out the tourists, won the match and went on to win the rubber.

"Every time I see Laxman I say thanks," said Wright.

Wright scored 5334 test runs for New Zealand as a steadfast opening batsman. He had to work at it and he instils the significance of work into his players.

He distrusts players who do not agree. Equally, he is aware that natural players, who India have in abundance, should not be interfered with.

"It isn't my job to fill them with jargon and dogma. Tell them what's happening and what they might do, but then let them do it. They have to feel it and see it."

But Wright knows he can help for the simple reason that most players cannot tell when it goes wrong. He quotes the American baseball legend Yogi Berra: "You can't hit and think at the same time."

When Wright speaks of India he does so with wonder. He talked of their special players and of how they have become a team.

"Cricket has grown enormously in India since I was there as a player in'87. I couldn't believe how this team are loved, wherever we play, win or lose." He regards highly Jagmohan Dalmiya, the controversial president of the Indian board.

" "He has been excellent to work with. He is thoroughly well-researched and wants a winning team, which he's entitled to.

"If I get a call tomorrow to tell me my services are no longer required then so be it. I've had a great time. These players have given me some of my most thrilling moments. We've got a little way to go."

The likelihood is that Wright will be assisting them along it.

- INDEPENDENT