News that John Wright may step down as Indian coach
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John Wright has hinted that he may not reapply to be coach of India when his contract expires at the end of May after the home series against Pakistan.
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I really like Wright, and his influence on the recent Indian success cannot be overstated. Alongwith Ganguly, he remains the prime reason for India's emergence as a cricketing power for the first time in over 50 years, and Wright deserves more of the credit for that than he is given. Quite interesting to see Wright's self-effacing and modest demeanour differs so markedly from Woolmer's. In fact, Wright's media shyness is not altogether different from Fletcher, though the former does talk to the media when things are going wrong; taking the flak and thus saving his players.
An excellent comment piece about Wright can be read
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During his tenure, Wright did far more than help win a series in Pakistan or plot a course to a World Cup final. He affected an attitudinal change in a team whose performances had seldom been in keeping with its undoubted potential. [...]
The figures – and ultimately, there is no better judge – reveal why Wright's tenure will be looked upon with so much fondness by so many. In the decade preceding his arrival, India won just 19 Tests, including a pathetic return of two – one of which was Bangladesh's inaugural Test – from 35 matches played overseas. Since his weather-beaten hands took over the tiller, there were 18 victories, nine of which came in 27 Tests away from home. Those at Headingley and Adelaide, where Australia piled up 400 for 5 on the opening day, have a special place in Indian cricket's Hall of Fame, alongside The Oval, 1971 and Port-of-Spain, 1976. [...]
When Shankly, a dyed-in-the-wool Scot, died, the city of Liverpool mourned him like they had never mourned one of their own. Wright's departure will evoke similar sorrow in a generation of Indian cricket lovers who had almost become reconciled to underachievement and wasted sunsets. That he was able to touch so many hearts so far from his North Canterbury roots tells you all you need to know about a truly remarkable individual.
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PS: I have deliberately posted the above on the New Zealand board, even thought Wright is the Indian coach. This is because Wright is, first and foremost, a Kiwi, and all New Zealand cricket followers should rightly be proud of all that he has achieved in India. 
24-02-2005, 02:17 PM
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