The Hindu : Sport : Time to use SWOT analysis, not swat it

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006

Sport

Sport

Time to use SWOT analysis, not swat it

It is a dominating Indian unit that one wants to watch, writes Makarand Waingankar

— File Photo: V.V. Krishnan

THE RIGHT COMBINATION: Having Sachin Tendulkar (seen here with physio John Gloster) in their ranks gives the Indians a psychological advantage over any opponent.

Captains and coaches are born. They can be guided, but they cannot be made. These men have one thing in common — a capacity to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their players. It is not the laptop but the head that keeps working permutations and combinations to effect moves.

A laptop certainly complements the efforts of data processing. But now it has been proved beyond doubt that the one who is good at SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis wins more matches consistently, whether he is laptop-savvy or not.

One of India's successful captains Ajit Wadekar says SWOT analysis helped him not only in cricket but also made him successful in his banking career.

The basic assumption of a SWOT analysis is that a team must combine its capabilities in countering external forces in order to be successful. It is a tool which cricketers, in the days prior to the introduction of laptops, used to perfection. Those who made mental notes of strengths and weaknesses for implementing strategy successfully were termed intelligent captains.

Opportunities, threats

With over 15 one-dayers that India will be playing before the World Cup, the SWOT analysis will have to specifically deal with the opportunities as well as the potential threats. Obviously what we consider threats are the strengths of the opposition.

For the next six months, Test cricket will take the backseat and hopefully time will be spent in making individuals realise that international competition is not a case of expectation but of explosion. Indian cricket expects personalities to explode.

We are a day away from news on Tendulkar's fitness. The minute physio John Gloster and Dr. Anant Joshi wave the green flag, Tendulkar will join the team. His charisma will quickly change the body language of the players.

Tendulkar adds tremendous strength to the team, lessening the burden on Dravid who seems to carry the tri-colour in his pocket every time he steps on the field in India colours.

Versatile

When the opposition deals with Tendulkar's versatility — bat in the middle-order or open the innings and bowl either spin or gentle medium pace — it is not too sure of its SWOT analysis. A man who changes gears swiftly by reading a situation can always be a difficult customer, especially in the limited-overs variety.

In the weakness section, the word `mental' attracts attention. Fitness and technique, which usually constitute a major part of this section, are sidetracked and it is the mental toughness of the Indian players that is being questioned.

From Edward de Bono's process of lateral thinking to a few sessions with the expert psychologist Rudy Webster, the players have tried to get an understanding of the concept, but it is the implementation that is important. Not all have faced tough situations with courage and conviction.

The other weaknesses quite evident are the OT factor (Over Thirty) with tired legs and the inexperience of young fast bowlers. A team which blended experience with the exuberance of youth had more chances of winning in the earlier formula which has drastically changed from `a run saved is a run scored' to `a four saved is a run scored.'

The OT factor still remains a worry in fielding. Tired legs, slow reflexes and sore shoulders will affect fielding, and to cover that the Indians will have to put a minimum of 30 runs extra on the board.

Bring back Zaheer

If the in-form Zaheer Khan is not entrusted with the responsibility of leading the attack, backed by the experienced Ajit Agarkar and Irfan Pathan along with Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Ramesh Powar, for the next six months before the World Cup and the team management still continues to indulge in experiments, the World Cup will remain a distant dream.

It is common sense in SWOT analysis that one makes the most of the opportunities to consolidate the strengths, thereby reducing the weaknesses. However, failing to get the proper process of consolidation invites threats.

Didn't the Indian team management underestimate the West Indies in the one dayers, losing 4-1? How consistent were our young bowlers bowling to one line? Knowing that the grounds in the West Indies have short boundaries, did they bowl the right length and line consistently? There could be many threats that one can envisage.

Potentially, the Indians are world-beaters in the limited-overs version of the game, but there is a tendency to leave pre-match SWOT analysis in the dressing room and play without realising one's limitations.

The learning process has gone on for far too long. It is a dominating Indian unit that one wants to watch for the next six months. Proper SWOT analysis and its effective implementation for the next six months is the only answer.

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