Cricket: Kiwi jewel of Indian cricket

The irony wasn't lost on John Wright. Here was a man living in the second-most populous nation in the world, leading one of the most powerful cricket teams on the planet, yet he was in what he described as "the loneliest job in the world".

There were the Christmas dinners he had by himself, the evening meals he ate alone (except for the three waiters always lurking at his table to fill up his glass of water if it threatened to be less than half-full), the children's birthdays he missed and his belongings that fitted into two suitcases and a guitar case. Sometimes he felt like a slave to his hotel room because he couldn't go out, particularly near the end of his tenure, without being recognised.

It's perhaps appropriate, then, that the former New Zealand opener has hidden himself away on his lifestyle block near Christchurch since he returned home just over 12 months ago. But Wright will have to pull off the Swandri and park the quad bike in the garage for a little while as he hits the road to launch his book about his four-and-a-half years as India coach.

"It was probably the biggest adventure I will ever have in my life," he said enthusiastically. "I miss that thrill of getting on that team bus and going to a big game, with the crowds clapping you all the way to the ground..."

But Wright was always the foreigner coaching in a foreign land, and when he was handed the reigns in November 2000 he wasn't supposed to last as long as he did. Many campaigned to get rid of him, even within those first three months, in what was a highly political environment. But it was a testament to his success and the support he earned from some powerful people within the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) that he survived.

"In many ways, that's what made the job so exciting," he explained. "I actually didn't have a contract for about 40 per cent of the time but it didn't really matter because they were honourable people. I got paid every three months so that was the length of time I'd allow myself to look ahead.

"It was satisfying that I lasted so long, I certainly didn't expect to walk away on my own terms, but I proved I could survive and proved that a foreigner could do the job."

Wright, of course, was replaced by former Australian skipper Greg Chappell, who immediately went about replacing Sourav Ganguly as India captain. Chappell also caused a stir soon after Wright's departure when he wrote in a leaked email to the BCCI that Wright had allowed Ganguly to practice "deceit", "rumour-mongering" and "divide and rule".

It is with something of a laconic shrug that Wright ponders this. After all, his relationship with the Prince of Kolkata was the "subject of as much media speculation and gossip as a Bollywood marriage". Ganguly was a controversial figure who sometimes affronted people with his brazen attitude, but history shows he was also India's most successful captain and Wright's trusted, although sometimes wayward, lieutenant.

"He's a special man," Wright said. "He wore his heart on his sleeve and there was an arrogance that used to get up people's noses. But I think that was good for us, it was good to have that feistiness as the country learned it was becoming such a powerhouse in world cricket.

"I tested him and he tested me but there was an inner trust between us. He would often do things which were the opposite to what we had talked about, which always kept me on my toes, but there was a bond that grew, despite how different we were. And we were always a really happy side."

Wright managed to instil a tight ship within the Indian team. Out went the tea and biscuits served up by waiters in bow ties before training sessions and in came a rigid dress code and a strict fitness regime. The latter, in particular, was a massive change for players who had relied on their immense talents rather than doing the little things well to win a game. "It took me about a year to convince them that running between the wickets and fielding were quite important in one-dayers," he chuckled. "We had a pretty strict regime when it came to training and I was probably almost too tough on them."

It was difficult, however, to point out technical problems to some of the world's best batsmen: Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag, Ganguly. "I didn't coach Sachin Tendulkar, I gave him gentle advice when he asked for it", he explained. But Wright was constantly pushing his illustrious players to strive for more and fulfil their potential.

Although he's still the introverted John Wright you might remember from his playing days, the guy more comfortable facing Dennis Lillee on a seaming pitch than facing the public or media, he is clearly a driven man. He believes he gained the respect of his players and is looked on favourably by the majority of the distended ranks of the Indian cricket media.

Although it was something of a cathartic experience to write the book, he knows he now needs to think about the future. He's had offers to coach again overseas, and he's not averse to that, but he would also like to stay in New Zealand to be closer to his family and to avoid the dreaded travel and all that goes with it.

"People always ask me about coaching New Zealand," he said. "Who knows? I wouldn't rule it out. I would like to help New Zealand Cricket in some way and be involved in competitive sport, whatever code that might be. It depends what crops up."

It certainly won't crop up before next year's World Cup, with incumbent John Bracewell assured of his place, but there might be some room for him at the cricket academy in Christchurch. It won't be a job that thrusts him into the spotlight or forces him to don a cap and a pair of dark glasses to slip inconspicuously into the madding crowd, but that would suit him just fine.

John Wright's Indian Summers, published by Hachette Livre, is out now. RRP $49.99.