India coach job not for now, maybe an IPL stint, says Steve Waugh

April 16, 2015 02:14 am | Updated 02:14 am IST - SHANGHAI:

“I am not ready now because I am not trained for it and also have personal and business commitments,” said Steve Waugh when The Hindu asked him about taking up the India coaching job if it was offered in the near future.

“The appointment has too many expectations from more than a billion people and it is a very difficult job,” said the legendary Australian on the sidelines of the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony here on Wednesday.

“However, I might consider mentoring an IPL team if given the chance and maybe down the line go on to bigger things.”

‘Tugga’ assessed the new, young Test captains of India and Australia in a single sentence: “Virat Kohli has the better technique, while Steve Smith shows better temperament”.

“Virat has to adopt the Dhoni work ethic and keep his emotions restrained when he is leading his men on the field. He is the best batsman now and there is an exciting future in store for the two (Kohli and Smith).

“The World Cup win was fantastic for us, given the emotional upheaval (Phil Hughes’s death) the team was facing. It was even better for New Zealand as the tournament generated great excitement in a country that is more passionate about rugby.

“The spectators had a lot of fun, thanks to some big scores, but it was unfair on the bowlers because of better bats and field restrictions.

“India exceeded expectations and one bad day at the office cannot take away what they put on show in the tournament.

“I don’t think the toss was vital (in the semifinal) because the Indian batting line-up is strong. It was just one of those days,” was the 1999 World Cup-winning captain’s succinct view on the 2011 champion’s performance.

On the debate about a condensed WC in 2019, Waugh said: “I would prefer at least 12 teams in the next World Cup but the duration can be shorter. The minor countries, especially Afghanistan and Ireland, were impressive this time around.”

However, West Indian fast bowling great Michael Holding differed with Waugh on the future format.

“The 10-team format is welcome. The ICC could give automatic qualification to the top six teams in the rankings and the other four, whether full or associate member, should emerge from a qualifying event. And yes, the duration should be trimmed.

“It may have been super World Cup for the people watching the match, but big scores by the teams batting first made many games one-sided and not interesting. Many a time I slept over the second innings,” guffawed ‘Whispering Death’.

When this correspondent asked him about a sequel to Fire in Babylon (the award-winning documentary on the glory days of West Indian cricket), Holding said: “It will happen if the administrators in the Caribbean respect the players’ needs more and have better infrastructure at all levels especially the grassroots level.”

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