Controversy over Wright's book is petty

By Rohit Brijnath

Indian selectors have found Wright's book 'controversial'

There's always been much to like about former India cricket coach John Wright. Like his respect for the new country he had arrived in. Like his refusal to bleat to journalists, and if the jury is still out on the present coach, Wright at least was rarely indiscreet.

Like his preference for lurking in the shadows, or as Pradeep Magazine neatly put it in his Hindustan Times column, the team was never John's India, it was Sourav's India.

It is therefore rather ironic that Wright's new book, Indian Summers, has caused offence among some Indians (read some selectors). The book has not been released in the sub-continent, yet has rapidly been dubbed as controversial.

Funny, I must have missed those parts. The book, which I speed-read to meet this deadline, is amusing, self-deprecatory, tough, insightful, occasionally wide-eyed. Hair-tearing or chest beating it hardly warrants.

There is also a pettiness to our cricket, reflected in a propensity for personal attacks and former cricketers taking pot-shots at one another Your views on this column

Wright (who benefits from the knowledge and honesty of his co-writer, journalist Sharda Ugra) has wisely refrained from cheap shots and score settling, which often devalues such books. He has not committed that most unforgivable of sins by numerous visitors to India by being patronising.

What is evident is the affection he carries for India, most evident in his conclusion to the book: "Going to India is like coming home. It touches something in you, leaves a mark and you forget what it is until you go back. Then in an instant suddenly that part of you comes alive again. Wherever I am and whatever I do, it will be reaching out to me, drawing me back.''

Harsh reaction

But this isn't, fortunately, some cloying account of Wright's time as coach. He's no coaching savant, and when he errs he says so. Furthermore, the Indian system is chaotic, players can be difficult occasionally, officials can be aggravating; we know that, and for him to gloss over all that would have been silly. But he's done it neatly, without flirting with sensationalism.

'The team was never John's India, it was Sourav Ganguly's India'

Some selectors have taken issue with Wright because he's said what we all know. That zonal selection is not the greatest of ideas. That it puts pressure on selectors who have to show they're fighting for players from their state.

Wright's point is fair and as he explained to me last week: "If India has to be No.1 (in the cricket world), then everything has to be the best possible system.'' Greatness demands all working parts have to be in order.

Wright does not indict selectors by name; indeed, he insists that "the problem wasn't with the individuals, but with the structure they operated under''. Doesn't matter. Reaction has been swift, and harsh.

It has been said Wright is a mercenary, that he was being controversial to only to sell books, that he knows nothing about the Indian system, that he offered little tactical assistance as coach. In short, his character has been mutilated by some aggrieved selectors.

Wright has also been accused of revealing team information, but this charge reeks of double standards. It is routine for the contents of selection meetings, for instance, to be laid out in the next day's paper. Everywhere information (and accusations and criticisms) leak out of the system in a steady drip, most of it under the comfortable cover of anonymity. Yet when someone, like Wright in this case, actually puts his name to something in print, it becomes bad form?

Pettiness

Of course Wright's views on selection, or anything else for that matter, do not have to be treated like gospel. For instance, he recommends a vote for the captain and coach and I'm not entirely certain that's the way forward. We have the right to disagree with him, to dispute his tactics, to believe that his drive seemed to weaken in his last year, but what's with the mud slinging?

There were been rumours of a rift between Tendulkar and Dravid

Part of the griping about mercenaries (i.e. Wright) coming to India and not knowing about our system suggests that some of us are still discomforted by the idea of a foreign (read white) coach. It is a myopic, insecure view in a global world.

India's cricket culture is rich, and it is beautiful. Few nations behave as decorously on the field as we do, and in an increasingly discourteous sporting universe it is something to behold.

We also play cricket with style, and it is a flair that enriches the game; we own a supporter base whose size and passion is beyond measure, adding a unique flavour to the sport; we've made cricket into big business yet not forgotten the dreams of men in small towns, and the emergence of cricketers from forgotten hamlets points to cricket's growth as a truly representative Indian sport.

But there is also a pettiness to our cricket, reflected in a propensity for personal attacks and former cricketers taking pot-shots at one another. There is too much of playing the man. Even with the present coach Greg Chappell, who is never short of an opinion, there is a tendency to dislike the person rather than consider if his ideas are workable.

Cheap controversy

The cricketing debate in India needs to be elevated, we need to recognise that differences of opinion don't necessary have to mean personal dislike. Lately, Sanjay Manjrekar's motives have been examined after he wrote an intriguing piece on Tendulkar. Earlier when Dravid declared when Tendulkar was on 194 in Multan, ludicrous conspiracy theories did the rounds (Dravid jealous of Tendulkar; Ganguly conspiring against Tendulkar; take your pick).

Most disquieting was the reaction to Ganguly's fading captaincy. Those who proposed Dravid as captain were seen to detest Ganguly, and those sticking with Ganguly were thus anti-Dravid.

Greg Chappell: 'There is a tendency to dislike the person rather than consider if his ideas are workable'

Some Indian television stations thrive on, and fuel, such cheap controversy, and a channel once suggested a rift had developed between Dravid and Ganguly because they were sitting at different ends of a dining table or some such nonsense. Being first with the news occasionally seems more important than accuracy. Judging a book before reading it was unfortunate, but, in a way, also unsurprising.

When news of the book was doing the rounds, at least thrice I was asked if the book had any "juicy bits''. Sure we haven't taken any vows of boredom and enjoy a little colour and cheek, but whether Wright had some interesting theories, compelling ideas, worthwhile suggestions, was not secondary, it was almost irrelevant. It is a pity. For this distinctly "un-juicy'' book is worth reading.

This debate is now closed. Here is a selection of your comments.

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The article is a stark reminder of the attitude of most Indians in india. Their actions smack of personal agendas and short sightedness. The country of one billion is crippled by quotas,reservations and politics in all spheres of life. A bunch of myopic,self serving people in authority have kept the nation hostage to a culture which can spawn only mediocrity. They do it because the layman tolerates it.
Gaurav A Nagar, USA

Who will bell the cat? The zonal system needs to be dismantled. But how will the administrators, who depend on the zonal votes,ever be able to take such a bold decision? And another thing, to build a team over a period of time, the selectors should be given a longer tenure and should ideally be former test cricketers (that too those who have played in the last 5-6 years)
Sunil Babu, India

I did like this article & am craving to read more such balanced views from Indians. Probably that's what pulls lot of Indians out of India to western countries. We are not tolerant & hate a person for their views, we're highly opinionated and may be that's why so easily manipulated by the politicians. Its high time politics & corruption was kicked out of sports & education.
Jaune, USA

Great journalism, the like of which is sadly seldom seen. A beautifully written piece that shows passion for Indian cricket with a very open-eyed look at it's problems.
Neal, UK

Excellent article Rohit, please write more often.
Abhishek, USA

Great article!!! In my opinion Indian cricket board should think about the form of players as well as their experience, not to reckon players with respect to zone. Thanks to former Indian cricket coach Mr. Wright for his valuable comment about Indian cricket.
Mark Tony , Canada

The fact of the matter is that in Indian cricket still a lot of favouritism and politics exist at every level and I can say that because I have myself played at a certain level. I can guarantee you there are many more Sehwags and Tendulkars out there but they probably dont get a chance either because of the zonal policy or because of lack of support. MRF pace foundation is one of those institutions which produces the best of Indian pace attack, I wish they had more branches in all the zones to find talents from remote areas.
Ravi, UK

Excellent article. Some of the selectors used to gripe about politics ruining the game, during their playing days...all of which they forgot upon becoming selectors themselves. I think Cricket Australia is a model for all countries to try and emulate.
Rahul Ponappa, USA

iving India's coach soccer-style managerial powers is pragmatic and wise. It will end subjectivity in picking Test squads. But who would select the man for the job ? Another All-India Selection Board ? Vested interests will still peddle influence for a local favourite, however the structures are relabelled.
Paul Crookall, France

No matter what the selectors, BCCI officals or media says, Wright has done a lot for Indian cricket and deserves our praise and thanks.
Neil, India

Once again, Mr. Brijnath makes some very valid points. John Wright has done quite a bit of work behind the scenes for Indian cricket. He should be applauded for that, and not vilified for that. I also happened to read the comments by Chris Gardiner on this article, and having personally watched Sitanshu Kotak bat for Saurashtra, I can vouch for his ability to play at the international level. But unfortunately, we on the Indian subcontinent, politicize every aspect of the game, and thats why so many able cricketers are mired in the quagmire that is Indian cricket. Even though we don't like comments about us, we should atleast have the maturity to debate those comments. Who knows, Sitanshu Jr. might one day play for India.
Manan Pancholi, USA

Thank you so much Mr Brijnath for an excellent, unbiased article which is so difficult to have in an Indian context. It is about time Indian newspapers employ established ex-Test players to write about cricket as they do in the West. It may cost a few more pounds but at least it will spare us from the indiscriminate, unthinking, dictatorial behaviour of self-styled critiques of Indian cricket.
Samir Chatterjee, U.K.

'There is a tendency to dislike the person rather than consider if his ideas are workable' That sums up the real problem, that is national charecter, be it in cricket, social, engineering or political field.
Ramesh Singh, Canada

Well said. Actually,the selection of the players should solely be upon the coach and the captain and not by some who doesn't even have any cricket experience.
Jobby John Mathew, India

As an Englishman I realise I am not in the best position to comment on Indian cricket, but I feel that India are one of the most attractive sides to watch, but consistently flatter to decieve. I think this can in no small part be attributed to the zonal system, it smacks of the system in South Africa that saw us benefit from the services of Kevin Pieterson. India need to put their strongest side out in every test match, regardless of how many players are from certain zones, god knows the Aussies wouldnt fall foul of being forced to pick players to the detrement of the team. A small example is Shitanshu Kotak, this guy has test match opener written all over him, a perfect foil for Sewag, but can he play??? No,too many players from his zone. Until something changes, India will never ever be the number one side in the world, and given the virocity of the support and the passion for the game, its a crying shame.
Chris Gardiner, England

A compelling article.Everybody knows that the zonal system is a fact of life in Indian Cricket.Whenever some one has spoken the truth our "selectors" and other functionaries have cried wolf. No point in having the richest cricket board in the world if that cant be translated in being a super power on the circket field.
Asmeet Grewal, Australia

I think the one thing indian cricket lacks is intelligence. Not just on the field but among cricket's policy makers as well. Just see how former cricketers and selectors have reacted to Wright's book. This is a very mature assessment of the book. Well done Rohit.
Sunil Munshi, UK

Its an excellent piece of writing, unbiased and non judgemental.
Manish Joshi, INDIA

Great article, I know little or nothing about cricket in India, the most popular cricket playing nation, although I have seen them play a few times in the UK. Lets see more from Rohit
Ian Shuter, USA

i do believe that indian media is fully responsible for any ill feelings towards a player.and indian media esp the numerous news channels can make you a star or villain within a day.and also they have degraded the meaning of breaking news,by including any gossips they get as breaking news
eprem y, eth

Excellent article. Very well written, interesting and enlightening.
Adam Naylor, Uk

Excellent article. Is the book going to be published in India? Do you think it would help the interest of Indian cricket if the Minutes of the Selection Panel meeting are put in public domain soon after the match is played?
F.J. Vapiwala, U.K.

When someone does come out with the truth, the establishment tries to hide behind and starts accusing the author. Come on guys we have seen from time to time that you have very talanted people who can produce better results but what we have seen is these talented people are ignored. To me it sometimes feels that may be people in establishment must be taking back-handers so the poor can be ignored. Accept authors views and see how we can progress further.
Gi Gi Di, Uk

The book by John Wright should be welcomed and thoroughly perused as an insight into the workings of the BCCI and the state of cricket in India. The opinions of an 'outsider' are very important especially when you consider that the BCCI has now become a money-making machine. A country that has the potential to be No 1 in the world, unfortunately suffers from nepotism, favouritism and self-delusion of it's cricketing prowess.
Vipul Dave, UK

The book contents if taken in right spirit should do a lot of good to cricket adminnstrators in India. This is because John Wright has seen players, officials from close quarters for a long time.It is not proper to call him a mercinary. We as a rule do not like any criticism of our systems.
Dr.A. B. Sardesai, India

Having read Indian Summers, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Brijnath's comments. John Wright has written a nice account of his experiences in India, without being judgemental even once. Our supporter base is the biggest and most passionate of its kind and this is a double edged sword. We have a billion experts, I am one and so are you. Tolerance is required, perhaps more of us need to be like Mr. Wright. (Incidentally, here in New Zealand, Wright is much admired and respected)
Amrit Kolluru, New Zealand

Of late, I am reading lot of articles from Rohit Brijnath. His writing is very compelling to read and the language is excellent. The content, variety and context easily matched to that of Raju Bharathan, Harsha Bogle et al., Keep writing.
Murugan Balasubramanian, USA

Why don't they sack all the selectors and instead give the full rights of selection to the coach and no-one else?
Raj, UK

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