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New dawn Wright handed job of rebuilding Indian cricket
Updated: Thursday November 02, 2000 10:18 AM
BOMBAY (Reuters) -- Former New Zealand captain John Wright has been appointed India's first foreign cricket coach on a one-year contract, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Thursday. "We have selected John Wright as the coach for the Indian team commencing from the Zimbabwe tour and he has accepted. He will be here by November 14," A.C. Muthiah told reporters. Former Australian captain Greg Chappell and former Australian coach Geoff Marsh were also in the running to replace Kapil Dev who resigned in September after being embroiled in match-fixing allegations. "Geoff couldn't spend much time, he is also an Australian Cricket Board selector. Greg Chappell is coaching in South Australia and would have had to give up his assignment," Muthiah said. Muthiah said the board was negotiating with Wright on salary. "It will be more or less on the same scale as the players get. The contract is for one year, renewable for one more year. We have not thought of having an assistant coach." Asked whether Marsh was being considered for the post of consultant to the BCCI, Muthiah said: "We are discussing with Geoff. We will see in what way Geoff can contribute to the development of Indian cricket." India struggling Wright, 46, was a left-handed opener who scored 5,334 runs in 82 tests, including 12 centuries. In a 16-year career, he amassed the second-highest test run aggregate for New Zealand, behind ex-captain Martin Crowe. Wright captained New Zealand to three wins in 14 tests -- including two against India. The appointment of the coach comes at a time when the Indian side is struggling to find its form. It has had a run of poor performances abroad, and its 13-year unbeaten run in test series at home was broken by South Africa earlier this year. The game has also been embroiled in a match-fixing scandal. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report released on Wednesday accused former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin of fixing matches. The report also accused Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar, Nayan Mongia and a number of other international stars of having links with bookmakers. Many of the players named have denied any wrongdoing. Dev was exonerated in the report.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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