Indian cricketers may be poor travellers but their former coach John Wright
feels the team could be "very competitive" if they get their batting
right and big players perform in the upcoming series against England.
"Always the key for India is their belief that they can win away from India.
When they are overseas they don't get enough runs. I think if they get their batting
right and their big players perform they will be very competitive," said
Wright, who was the coach when Sourav Ganguly led India to their famous
Natwet series win here five years ago.
Referring to seniors such as Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar
and Sourav Ganguly, the former New Zealand opener said
it was hardly a surprise that even half a decade later the team's nucleus remained
the same.
"I am not surprised to see the same names here. They are
still the best batsmen in India. There are no other Dravids or Tendulkars on
the horizon. One of the joys of my job was to sit there just watching them bat,"
he was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian'.
On Ganguly, he said "...And I loved Ganguly to bits -
he added spice to the side." Wright, who also guided India to historic
series win in Pakistan and drawing of a series in Australia besides reaching
the finals of 2003 World Cup, said absence of a coach might rather be good for
the team.
"A deep breath, and the recognition that they have no
coach, might be good for them in the short term. They have an experienced batting
line-up and the onus will be on them to plan and perform," said Wright,
back in New Zealand now, and having recently turned down the chance to head
Queensland's centre of excellence.
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