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It's been a bitter pill to swallow: Wright

By S. Dinakar

NOTHING'S GOING (W)RIGHT:The Napier beach (in the background) is the only pleasant sight for Indian coach John Wright at the moment given the disappointing display by the team. The genial Kiwi wants the players to pull up their socks and salvage something at least in the next six matches. — Photo: N. Balaji

Napier Dec. 27. His pleasant exterior concealing the pain and anguish within, he spoke from the heart. It has been a rough ride for the Indians so far on this tour, and as coach, it's not been easy for John Wright.

Blanked in the two-Test series, the Indians began the ODI series on a wrong note, going down at Auckland. With the World Cup beckoning, the Indians need to get their act together... and fast.

Fresh from an evening shower, Wright expressed his feelings in an extremely frank interview to The Hindu, here on Friday.

"It's been disappointing so far, particularly from a personal point of view. Coming here as a Kiwi and as coach of the Indian team, I wanted to win here probably more than anywhere else. It has been a bitter pill to swallow.''

The New Zealand campaign has seen the heavyweights in the Indian batting line-up, save Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, disappoint on pitches that demanded `an extra yard' from the batsmen.

Without naming individuals, Wright puts his message across. "The conditions have been difficult but you got to accept them. You got to adapt. And show a lot of fight. I think one of the keys to any good team, in any sport, is to have people who just love to fight. And who will fight for the country in any condition, anywhere in the world. That's what we need to do for the next six games, no matter what the conditions are. You can go a long way with that sort of attitude.''

Wright pointed out that "it will always look very well to strike the ball around on a flat wicket, it is in conditions like these that you need to fight.''

For India to claw its way back, the batsmen have to believe in themselves. "We got to get some runs in all conditions. Personally, I think the wickets have not been up to international standards. But blaming things, you are not going to get forward from that. Our bowlers wouldn't say it. I think the bowlers have done a magnificent job on this tour. And they have been let down. We only have two batsmen who have got any runs,'' said Wright.

So far, New Zealand has played its cards well. India's batting is superior but when the ball seams around so much, the advantage is neutralised. Wright admits this. "It lowers the common denominator, which sends anyone back to a level playing field. But we have to show that will to win, the utter determination and commitment, no matter what. The bottom line is whatever wickets are produced for the rest of the series, we are playing for the country and I am coaching for the country.

"It's a matter of pride for me as a coach, and for the players, to win. I am very disappointed with the losses, I know I can turn it around, but we got to show the will.''

The Test series was a tale of missed opportunities; so was the Auckland one-dayer. "We were 62 for two yesterday. In the second Test, we had a partnership between Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. We needed to kick on. We needed another partnership. We missed runs. We had to stay at the crease and slug it out. As simple as that. A job had to be done and we lost that opportunity.''

Wright goes on to make a telling comment. "Some guys get by with very little ability and a lot of fight. But even the people with a lot of ability, if they lose their fight, then I think the performance would suffer.''

Ideally, talent has to blend with fighting spirit. "You need talent to fight. You need the combination. Tendulkar is a good example. Rahul's a fighter. That's the bottom line. He likes a scrap. I've not seen great players achieve greatness without being great battlers. Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, they were lions for India. I think you will find that quality in great sportspersons of any country and India is no exception. Soft players and soft teams, they don't win much.''

All about basics

In the one-dayers, Wright has always stressed on fielding and running between wickets, the key areas. "If I was in the position of a selector, which I am not, then I will only pick fighters and fielders, and people who can run between wickets. If you get that wrong, you know, it becomes difficult.''

He believes that the Indians will have to return home with at least a victory in the one-day series. "We got to go back home with something. We've wasted an opportunity in the Test series, at least to draw it. That's how I see it. It's very important.''

The true test of character for any side lies in how it picks itself off the mat. "You have defeats, but it's just how you respond to them. Picking yourself up, isn't it? That's what you really want to see as the coach. Got to keep your confidence. If you go out and compete every day, if you have any sort of fire, you will have your days.''

The Kiwis are running hot at the moment, and the Indians will have to soon recapture the magic of Natwest Trophy and ICC Championship wins. "I enjoyed the England tour and the tournament in India so much, the fact that we fought back from tough situations. We got to get back into that habit. That's the opportunity for us in the next six games, and then in the World Cup.''

He's always been a believer in having the heart and desire. "You got to have a passion for the game. Passion to beat the best, to have that desire when you represent the country. I've always felt that the Indian fans are the greatest in the world. They have been very good to me. I've had ups and downs in my tenure and the last few days have been a down. Games will be won and lost but I want to see players who will give their everything for the country.''

He then utters the ultimate truth in sports — only winning matters. "Sport is all about winning. There are times when it will be easy and others when it will be tough. And to win from tough situations, which we find ourselves now, you got to go out and compete in every situation. Whether it is a fielder, batter or bowler, you got to work it out if you want to survive.'' Well said coach, but are the cricketers listening?

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