Popular Cricketers Who Turned Coaches after Retirement
Date: 25-06-2016
After weeks of speculation, Team India has finally got its new coach. And it's none other than Anil Kumble, one of India's greatest cricketers of all time. Kumble, who has worked as a mentor for two different IPL sides, became the first Indian to be appointed full-time India coach since Kapil Dev resigned in September 2000.
While only time will tell whether 'Jumbo' will succeed in this new role, he has now joined an illustrious list of popular cricketers who went on to coach different international sides after retirement. Here's taking a look at some of them:
Anshuman Gaekwad.
Under his coaching stint (1997 to 1999, and a brief spell in 2000), India did really well in limited overs cricket, winning trophies like the Independence Cup (beating Pakistan) and a major tournament in Sharjah. Anil Kumble's world-record 10 wickets in a test match also came during his coaching stint, and Gaekwad did a good job after replacing Madan Lal at a difficult time. He shared an excellent rapport with skipper Sachin Tendulkar.
THE INDIAN BRIGADE:
Ravi Shastri
THE ZIMBABWEAN DUO:
Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower.
THE AUSSIE BRIGADE:
Darren Lehmann, Greg Chappell, Tom Moody and Dav Whatmore.
THREE BIG SUCCESS STORIES:
Gary Kirsten, John Wright and Bob Woolmer
Ravi Shastri, Ajit Wadekar, Kapil Dev, Madan Lal, Sandeep Patil.
Ravi Shastri shared an excellent rapport with skipper Virat Kohli and as the team director, he did a good job in 2015-16. The highlights of his stint include India reclaiming the number one ranking in tests for a brief period (eight weeks), reaching two World Cup semi-finals and beating Australia 3-0 in Australia (T20s). Under Wadekar (1992 to 1996), India won a few ODI tournaments, did excellently in home tests and remained unbeaten for 14 tests in a row. Kapil Dev (1999-2000) and Madan Lal (1996-1997) didn't have a very memorable stint as coaches, and Sachin Tendulkar wrote that Kapil was a disappointment as coach. Sandeep Patil's brief coaching stint with Team India wasn't too fruitful in 1996, but he found success as the coach of Team Kenya, leading them to the 2003 World Cup semi-final.
THE ZIMBABWEAN DUO:
As the first foreigner to coach England, Fletcher achieved some outstanding results, including England's first Ashes triumph in 2005 after 18 years. With Team India though, he had a rollercoaster ride, winning some major ODI tournaments but also witnessing some embarrassing whitewashes in test cricket. Flower was successful with England, leading them to their first World T20 Trophy in 2010 and three Ashes series wins.
THE AUSSIE BRIGADE:
Australia have done well under Lehmann since 2013, with the 2015 World Cup win being the pinnacle of his achievements. Greg's stint as India's coach (2005-2007) wasn't a memorable one, as India's early exit from the 2007 World Cup and an ugly public spat with Sourav Ganguly made headlines. Moody did well with Sri Lanka after taking charge in 2005, taking them to the 2007 World Cup final. Whatmore masterminded Sri Lanka's World Cup triumph in 1996, and also did well when he coached Bangladesh (2003-2007), leading them to their first ever test win. He also coached Pakistan.
THREE BIG SUCCESS STORIES:
Woolmer, who coached South Africa to numerous test series wins in the 1990s, will be remembered as one of the game's finest coaches who advocated the use of more technology in cricket. He coached Pakistan to some successful results too. Kirsten, who led Team India to the World Cup triumph in 2011, remains one of our most loved coaches. He achieved great success as the South African coach too, especially in test cricket. The soft-spoken Wright served Indian cricket for almost five years (2000-2005), forming an excellent partnership with skipper Sourav Ganguly. He led the team to some memorable test wins and also to the 2003 World Cup final, before moving on to coach New Zealand.
Yours,
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