Former England coach Duncan Fletcher and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming have emerged as the front-runners for the Indian cricket team coach’s post, which fell vacant after Gary Kirsten’s departure early this month.The BCCI, in consultation with senior cricketers, is planning to finalize the name once the fourth edition of IPL ends on May 28.
Fletcher, 62, who guided England to the 2005 Ashes win, was recently involved with Cricket South Africa as a batting consultant. Fleming is a graceful left-handed toporder batsman who coaches Chennai Super Kings. CRICKET Rumours on Flower add to the drama
Who’ll coach Team India and when? Former England coach Duncan Fletcher and former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming top the race, and either of them, both, could be appointed, perhaps, only after the upcoming Windies tour.
Zimbabwe allrounder Fletcher’s coaching credentials have been lauded by Kirsten and John Buchanan in the past. Kirsten, it is learnt, proposed his name to the Indian board. Incidentally, Fletcher also worked with the New Zealand team as consultant during the one-day series in India last year.
Fleming, like Kirsten, keeps a low profile and makes his work speak for him. With him as coach, CSK won the IPL last year and followed it up with the Champions League victory in South Africa.
Fleming was offered the New Zealand coaching job after the departure of Andy Moles, but he had refused the offer, saying, “It is not my interest to coach internationally. I am very happy with the business side of things I am looking to set up, and with my family life. I do not have the time for coaching and I have no desire.”
Rumours in England suggest former Zimbabwe batsman and England batting consultant Andy Flower to be in the running for the job. “As of now, it is between Fletcher and Fleming,” says an official in the know of developments. “His (Flower) name has come up maybe because his ECB contract just came to an end.”
The BCCI is unlikely to appoint a coach before the tour of West Indies, unless, says the official, “captain MS Dhoni insists on anything particular”. Only if Dhoni insists will a coach will be finalised before the tour of West Indies else, the appointment will take place before the tour of England which follows in July. The BCCI, it is learnt, is meeting at the end of this month to discuss the issue. The official added, “Don’t be surprised if both (Fletcher and Fleming) are appointed. One may join as the chief coach and the other as assistant coach.”
