India second home to me: Gary Kirsten
Former India coach Gary Kirsten talks about his future and passes on some advice to incoming coach Duncan Fletcher, while Gary?s half-brother Peter talks about his new role coaching Sierra Leone for the ICC Africa Division 2 T20 tournament on this week?s ICC Cricket World Radio Show.
Gary says: ?I did spend some time with Duncan and he asked some good questions about my process and time with the Indian side. He?ll have his own ideas about coaching the Indian side, it?s good, it will be a positive change. He?s had great success with other teams so I have no doubt he will arrive and offer value to the India team. I can only offer my experiences and he takes what he would like to on board.
?Duncan?s been a very successful coach and I was even coached by him early on in my career, I know about him and how he operates and I think he?s going to enjoy working with the Indian team and the Indian players will enjoy working with him.”
?I don?t think I won?t go back to India, it?s a second home to me, whether its as a coach in the IPL, or coming to meet up with friends, or to speak for a work conference – I think I will always come back as it?s a country I enjoy being in,” h said.
Joining Gary on this week?s show is his half-brother Peter who is coaching Sierra Leone at the ICC Africa?s Division 2 T20 tournament that begins in Benoni on Saturday.
?I enjoy helping people improve their game, there?s a lot of enthusiasm in Africa and especially in Sierra Leone, even though the facilites for cricket are not great. I think this will be a great tournament ? I think the Sierra Leone boys will battle when batting against spin bowlers but our bowling and fielding is pretty good.
?There is no shortage of passion and desire to improve their game, and we?re on our way to the big tournament in Benoni with the nine teams and its amazing to watch the enthusiasm amongst my side.
?I?ve been speaking Gary regularly, whatever he chooses to do I?m sure it will suit him ? but I?d certainly like to team up with him at some point in the future,? says Peter.
Finally, former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop looks ahead to the upcoming Test series between West Indies and Pakistan.
?I think it will be an interesting Test series especially since the West Indies won the last two one-day internationals, so I think the West Indies side would have taken a lot from that experience into the Test matches. I think Pakistan?s batting showed some vulnerability and with the departure of Younus Khan for personal reasons I think it leaves the side more open and couple that with interesting pitch conditions ? it could be a very competitive series,? says Bishop.
