Cracking the whip following India’s shambolic Test series against England, BCCI on Tuesday sidelined coach Duncan Fletcher by appointing former captain Ravi Shastri as Team Director while giving ‘break’ to bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penny for the upcoming ODI series starting 25 August.
BCCI earlier this year extended the contracts of both Penney and Dawes, along with Fletcher, till 2015 World Cup. But in the aftermath of the team’s disastrous show in the five-Test series against England, the board decided to drop the duo.
Under-fire Fletcher, 65, just managed to save his job and now Shastri will be the overall in-charge of the team. Fletcher took over from South African Gary Kirsten after the 2011 World Cup and India haven’t won an away Test series under him.
‘In culmination of the discussions among all the office-bearers over the last couple of weeks, the BCCI has decided to avail the services of former India captain Ravi Shastri to oversee and guide the Indian cricket team for the forthcoming One-Day International (ODI) matches against England.
Duncan Fletcher will continue as head coach while Ravi Shastri will be the overall in-charge of cricket affairs of the Indian team,’ said a BCCI statement.
On Penney and Dawes, the official line from BCCI was they were given a break for the ODI series, but a top official said both coaches have been dropped. India’s slip catching was a cause of concern in the series, but Penney claimed there was no need to panic. ‘They have actually been dropped. We will take a call on both Penney and Dawes after the series in over,’ a top BCCI official said.
BCCI also appointed former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar and former fast bowler Bharat Arun as assistant coaches while R Sridhar, who was part of the now non-functional National Cricket Academy (NCA), will join as fielding coach for the ODI series.
It was after five years that BCCI appointed Indians as assistant coaches. Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh, who were appointed in 2007, were sacked as the bowling and fielding coaches, respectively, in 2009.
Meanwhile, the days of Fletcher seems to be numbered as there is a question mark about his presence during the upcoming home series against the West Indies.
‘Duncan has no powers left whatsoever. Ravi will be calling the shots and Duncan knows it only too well. At this point of time, with no choice of support staff, Duncan will have to take a back seat. If Duncan wants to leave before the next home series against West Indies, the board will not stop him,’ a senior BCCI office-bearer said on condition of anonymity.
When asked if Fletcher has indicated about quitting, he said, ‘BCCI sent him enough feelers that he is not required! Ravi and MS Dhoni will be involved in strategising. Sanjay (Bangar) has proven credentials and knows the younger members of the side. The current crop of fast bowlers have worked at NCA under Arun. So tell me what shall Duncan bring to the table? If he can read between the lines then he can tender his resignation and it will be accepted,’ the official added.
The home series against West Indies will kick off from October 8 with ODIs and Fletcher will be on leave before that series. It is also learnt Rahul Dravid’s name was also discussed but he was not too keen on a full-time role that requires extensive travelling. Dhoni’s name did not crop up, sources said.
BCCI earlier this year extended the contracts of both Penney and Dawes, along with Fletcher, till 2015 World Cup. But in the aftermath of the team’s disastrous show in the five-Test series against England, the board decided to drop the duo.
Under-fire Fletcher, 65, just managed to save his job and now Shastri will be the overall in-charge of the team. Fletcher took over from South African Gary Kirsten after the 2011 World Cup and India haven’t won an away Test series under him.
‘In culmination of the discussions among all the office-bearers over the last couple of weeks, the BCCI has decided to avail the services of former India captain Ravi Shastri to oversee and guide the Indian cricket team for the forthcoming One-Day International (ODI) matches against England.
Duncan Fletcher will continue as head coach while Ravi Shastri will be the overall in-charge of cricket affairs of the Indian team,’ said a BCCI statement.
On Penney and Dawes, the official line from BCCI was they were given a break for the ODI series, but a top official said both coaches have been dropped. India’s slip catching was a cause of concern in the series, but Penney claimed there was no need to panic. ‘They have actually been dropped. We will take a call on both Penney and Dawes after the series in over,’ a top BCCI official said.
BCCI also appointed former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar and former fast bowler Bharat Arun as assistant coaches while R Sridhar, who was part of the now non-functional National Cricket Academy (NCA), will join as fielding coach for the ODI series.
It was after five years that BCCI appointed Indians as assistant coaches. Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh, who were appointed in 2007, were sacked as the bowling and fielding coaches, respectively, in 2009.
Meanwhile, the days of Fletcher seems to be numbered as there is a question mark about his presence during the upcoming home series against the West Indies.
‘Duncan has no powers left whatsoever. Ravi will be calling the shots and Duncan knows it only too well. At this point of time, with no choice of support staff, Duncan will have to take a back seat. If Duncan wants to leave before the next home series against West Indies, the board will not stop him,’ a senior BCCI office-bearer said on condition of anonymity.
When asked if Fletcher has indicated about quitting, he said, ‘BCCI sent him enough feelers that he is not required! Ravi and MS Dhoni will be involved in strategising. Sanjay (Bangar) has proven credentials and knows the younger members of the side. The current crop of fast bowlers have worked at NCA under Arun. So tell me what shall Duncan bring to the table? If he can read between the lines then he can tender his resignation and it will be accepted,’ the official added.
The home series against West Indies will kick off from October 8 with ODIs and Fletcher will be on leave before that series. It is also learnt Rahul Dravid’s name was also discussed but he was not too keen on a full-time role that requires extensive travelling. Dhoni’s name did not crop up, sources said.