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Cricket
Dalmiya demands accountability from Wright
By Our Sports Reporter
NEW DELHI, DEC. 8. Indian cricket team coach John Wright will have to spring out something more than just a 3-0 whitewash of England in the ongoing Test series, to keep his job till the 2003 World Cup. ``I have to do well in the second and third Tests (to convince the Indian cricket board),'' Wright said here on Saturday. Wright's contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ended on November 15 and he was currently on an extension.
``Nothing has been conveyed to me about my contract. The issue is to be decided on December 23 (the final day of the third Test in Bangalore),'' said Wright. Describing the lengthy meeting with the BCCI President, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, as very constructive, Wright said that they reviewed the South African tour and discussed the measures needed to be taken to improve India's performance abroad.
``It was a fruitful meeting... looking specifically forward to the World Cup and how to go about the preparations,'' the coach said.
Mr. Dalmiya and Wright huddled for more than two hours and exchanged views on the details of India's South Africa tour, presented by the New Zealander.
``We are for putting in place a system to make accountability as the basic factor. There has to be an accountability and that is something we are all open to,'' he said.
The whole purpose of the meeting was to get hold of certain issues, which have been causing concern in the Board circles. First, India's continual shallow record in the away tours and the lack of communication between the team management and the selectors.
``We are working on that part for a better team management,'' Wright said adding that when the team was away from home it sometime became difficult to have a constant touch.
Team physiotherapist, Andrew Leipus, who joined Mr. Dalmiya and Wright midway through the meeting, said ``we need to implement some more stringent measures.''
Increasing injuries to several Indian players was another concern and Leipus had to do talking on this front. ``There was a lot of listening,'' Leipus said of Saturday's meting. ``We have a job to do and if we don't carry it out (the contract) will definitely come for a review.''
The two also put forward a suggestion of employing a trainer. ``We put forward the idea and he (Mr. Dalmiya) listened,'' Wright said.
On his part, Mr. Dalmiya described the meeting as an internal discussion. ``We have a goal and it has to be achieved,'' said the Board President. ``We want to find out why the Indian team fails on the away tours. There is no consistency in India's performance,'' added Mr. Dalmiya.
Mr. Dalmiya, however, was non-committal on whether the contracts of Wright and Leipus were being reviewed. ``There is no hurry... we will sit together again in Bangalore before taking any decision,'' Mr. Dalmiya said.
Leipus joined Indian team on October 3, 1999 and initially his contract was reviewed after six months, and later the period was extended to one year. Coach Wright started his stint on November 15, 2000.
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