Melding talent with the right tactics is uppermost on Indian bowling coach Eric Simons’ mind. “There is a lot of talent in the Indian bowling unit. I may have my own take on tactics and it’s all about finding the right approach to any given situation. I have already had a chat with Zaheer Khan on his expectations about me,” Simons said during the tea-break here on Tuesday.
Simons said he would discuss with the Board of Control for Cricket about the time-frame of his job as he has initially been pencilled in for the current Tests against Bangladesh and the upcoming series against South Africa. “Initially it is a six-week tenure and I don’t think I can do much in that short period. I mean changing a bowling action might take even a year. If and when I walk away, if the bowlers out here say that I helped them improve then I have done my job,” Simons said.
Simons said that he did not agree with Ian Chappell’s views on Indian bowling lacking match-winners. “It’s his view but you don’t become the number one team without good bowlers and I don’t see any reason why India cannot stay there,” Simons said.
The former South African coach said that Ishant Sharma is slowly getting back on track. “He bowled a lot more deliveries in good areas today. Bowling has a lot to do with confidence. Sometimes you might go for runs in the shorter versions of the game and it tends to affect you,” Simons said
Simons said that he is not fully aware of the Indian bench strength but added: “I do know that there is an exciting bowler in A. Mithun with whom I interacted during my stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is a strong lad and one for the future.”
Simons said that it also helped to have Gary Kirsten as the Indian coach as he shared a good rapport with the former South African batsman.
