Kohli needs to learn from Dhoni: Waugh

April 15, 2015

Shanghai, Apr 15: Australia's World Cup winning captain Steve Waugh feels Indian star Virat Kohli should learn from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to keep his emotions in check and mature as a captain.

Kohli WaughKohli took over the reigns of Test captaincy from Dhoni, who announced his shock retirement from the longest format post the third Test against Australia in December.

The Kohli-led India were just able to draw the fourth and final match but lost the series 0-2. Waugh opines that the young leader has a lot to learn.

"Kohli has to mature. He had a few issues this World Cup. He gets a bit too animated, bit too emotional, bit too personal on some issues. As a captain you have got to develop a thick skin and Dhoni has that, nothing gets through him. So he would be a good role model for Kohli. He has to be his own man but also take a bit of what Dhoni has.

"Dhoni has never been bothered about what people say. The external things don't influence him. He just keeps it simple, goes about his job in the best that he can do on the field. I like Kohli's passion. You can't be there starting every fight when he is a captain. He has to pull it back. He doesn't have to lose that passion but just have to be a little more smart in the way he does things," Waugh told PTI at the sidelines of the Laureus World Sports Awards, here today.

Even Australia have been led by the young Steven Smith in recent times with Michale Clarke's injury making him unavailable for most of the Australian summer.

Clarke joined the team in the World Cup only to to quit ODIs after helping Australia clinch their record fifth 50-over World Cup trophy. Waugh does not shy away from comparing Kohli and Smith as players and leaders.

"They are different personalities, poles apart, one who has his emotions in check, while the other shows his emotions all the time. Both are great players, Kohli probably has the best technique and may be Smith has best temperament. Both are exceptional talents and they are going to score lot of runs and be leaders for a long time. But there are many things to work on for sure," said Waugh.

Asked if he would like to take up the job of India coach if offered, Waugh said: "I haven't thought about it. I am not the right candidate right now. I have a good understanding of the game but I don't have coaching experience. It is a difficult job coaching India. You have to know the culture, there is a lot of expectations from the team.

"I also have three teenagers at home now, besides some business commitments. It is a great job and it would be an honour, may be five years down the line I might take it up but not now," he added.

Waugh said he sees himself more in a mentor's role now.

"I like mentoring and I would definitely want to do mentoring role. You have to take it step by step. Just because you have been an influential player doesn't mean that you can get into coaching. I will consider it if I get an offer from IPL players," he said.

Talking about India's performance at the World Cup, Waugh said: "India were the favourites but it was a big total. May be one or two down with 15 overs to go and India would have won it. they obviously have a great batting line-up and it is unfair to criticise one or two players for one off day. Pressure can do that to you. I don't think toss was decisive."

The 49-year-old was of the view that the bowlers got a raw deal in this 50-over showpiece event with the fielding restrictions and it was batsmen who dominated the game.

"It was too hard on the bowlers with field restrictions, especially in the last 10 overs. There is just no way to protect the fours and sixes and the bats are of much better quality then it used to be in my time. The bat is 15-20 per cent better and the guys are 15-20 per cent stronger and the boundaries are 20 per cent shorter, so it makes a huge difference when you combine them all. That's why batsmen are dominating one-day cricket," he said.

Regarding ICC's decision to cut down the number of teams to 10 from 14 next edition, Waugh said: "I like 12 teams. I was impressed with teams like Afghanistan and Ireland. I think the only way they are going to get better is by experience. So I think ICC needs to have shorter games. I thought six weeks was too long. I am disappointed that there will be just two associate teams next year."

On corruption in cricket, he said: "It will be naive to think that it is not happening. ICC is doing a pretty job at the international level but the danger is at the leagues and Twenty20 competition. These have potential to get influenced by wrong forces. Players are well educated. It is the strong captains and leaders who dictate the moral compass of the players."

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Agencies
May 25,2020

Chandigarh, May 25: Legendary former hockey player Balbir Singh Senior died in a private hospital on Monday, his family said.

He was 96 years old. His condition was critical for nearly a fortnight.

He was undergoing treatment at Fortis Mohali and was in a "semi-comatose condition".

He was hospitalised on May 8 with high fever and breathing trouble. His COVID-19 test came negative.

Balbir was part of the Indian teams that won gold at the 1948 London Olympics, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956. His record for most individual goals scored in an Olympic men's hockey final remains unbeaten.

Balbir had set this record when he scored five goals in India's 6-1 win over Netherlands in the gold medal match of the 1952 Games.

He was the head coach of the Indian team for the 1975 men's World Cup, which India won and the 1971 men's World Cup, where India earned a bronze medal. He was also conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri in 1957.

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News Network
June 29,2020

Jun 29: The West Indies cricketers will sport a 'Black Lives Matter' logo on the collars of their shirts during the upcoming three-Test series against England to protest against racism in sports.

Skipper Jason Holder, who has voiced his support to the cause that has once again come to the forefront after the killing of American George Floyd, said in a statement on Sunday: "We believe we have a duty to show solidarity and also to help raise awareness."

The ICC-approved logo, designed by Alisha Hosannah, will be the one which featured in the shirts of all 20 Premier League football clubs since the sport's resumption earlier this month.

"This is a pivotal moment in history for sports, for the game of cricket and for the West Indies cricket team," Holder was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"We have come to England to retain the Wisden Trophy but we are very conscious of happenings around the world and the fight for justice and equality. "As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for a generation to come."

Holder, who wants racism to be treated at par with doping and corruption, said they arrived at the decision to wear the logo after much thought.

"We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary. There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop," he said.

"We have to find some way to have equal rights and people must not be viewed differently because of the colour of their skin or ethnic background."

The West Indies players are likely to wear the shirts for the first time in this week's four-day warm-up match at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on Monday.

The opening Test of the series, which will mark the resumption of international cricket after the coronavirus-forced hiatus, will get underway at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8.

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Agencies
January 25,2020

Headingley, Jan 25: England have become the first team in the world to score 500,000 runs in Test cricket. They achieved the feat during the ongoing fourth and final Test against South Africa being played at The Wanderers.

On Friday - the opening day of the Test match -- England captain Joe Root's single through the covers took the Three Lions to a landmark 500,000 run-mark in the longest format of the game. They achieved the feat in their 1022nd Test match.

Australia comes second in the list, with 432,706 runs in 830 Tests. India, meanwhile, are third, with 273,518 runs in 540 Tests, followed by West Indies (270,441 runs in 545 Tests).

In the third Test played at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, England had become the first team to play 500 Test matches on foreign soil. Australia are the second team to play the most away Test with 404 matches they have played so far.

India have played 268 Tests on foreign soil in which they have won 51, lost 113 and 104 have ended in a draw.

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