Foreign coach for Ranji team?

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The Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy team could have their first foreign coach in the ensuing season.

It is reliably learnt that the senior members of the side have made a request to the TNCA for hiring the services of Chennai Super Kings’ assistant coach, Steve Rixon for the job.

“We are open to the idea of hiring a foreign coach and it remains to be seen on how things work out.
A decision on the senior state selection committee, support staff and team management will be taken in the next executive committee meeting to be held in the first week of July,” said Dr G. Natarajan, Honorary Joint Secretary, TNCA.

Having managed teams at all levels, former Australian wicket keeper Rixon has an impressive CV. The former coach of New Zealand has the advantage of having worked closely with the core bunch of the TN side in his association with Chennai Super Kings over the last three seasons.

The state team improved considerably under WV Raman (2006-10) and the good performance continued when the team moved to the concept of multiple coaches over the last two seasons.

With no strong contender from Tamil Nadu and the team not being able to break the title jinx, the state association could be forced to look at a new head coach of international repute.

“We might be hurting local sentiment, but there aren’t many options available at the moment. Foreign coaches did not make much sense previously as the conditions in India are much different but the IPL has changed that scenario a fair bit,” added Dr Natarajan.

The TNCA did approach Stephen Fleming but he had turned down the offer, as he could not spare the time in a long drawn season.

The search for a coach intensified after Raman’s departure but none really fitted the bill. However, the team showed good understanding and the three coaches did an honest job in spite of severe criticism being aimed at them.

“Abdul Jabbar (batting) showed a lot of patience working with the batsmen and did what was expected of him. M. Sanjay (fielding) also did an adequate job.

As far as DJ Gokulakrishnan (bowling) is concerned there is only a certain amount of help he can give to the spinners as he himself was a medium pacer.

Tamil Nadu was a finely balanced side and should have won the title last season. The coaching staff did contribute,” explained Dr Natarajan.

On what Rixon would bring to the Ranji table is a matter of conjecture but he has the required experience and more importantly has understood the Indian mindset over the years by working with the CSK.

A foreign coach for TN may have seemed farfetched a while ago. It could well be a reality in the coming season. There is always the hope that the team would break the long Ranji drought.