A new applicant for the job of Indian team's Head Coach

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opened invitations for the role of head coach of the Indian cricket team. They reportedly are no longer willing to continue with the former Indian spinner Anil Kumble at the helm. As many as six applications were received by the BCCI. The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) which comprises of three legends of the game – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman will take the final call on the name.

Two fore-runners in the sprint to become the head coach are the Australian coach of Indian Premier League winning team Sunrisers Hyderabad, Tom Moody and former Indian opener Virender Sehwag. But now, a new name is thrown into the mix. Craig McDermott, the former Australian pacer, has also submitted his application.

“I have thrown my hat in the ring for India’s head coaching job. I completed all the procedure on time, and the application was sent much earlier,” said the 52-year old while speaking to Sportstarlive from Brisbane. McDermott has served the baggy greens as a bowling coach. But now, he wants to be the head coach. “I have had aspirations for a while to be a head coach. I was away from cricket coaching for a year, and now, I want to come back to it. I have also enjoyed my time in India, and it would be nice to serve Indian cricket,” he said.

A coach needs to have a good relation with captain

The current relationship between Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli is highly speculated to be strained. According to the Queensland-born owner of 291 Test wickets, a coach needs to have a good equation with his skipper. “Being a head coach is about managing the people and maintaining a good relation with the players and the captain,” he said.

A BCCI official confirmed that McDermott has submitted an application well in time. But without saying anything else, he commented: “It is for the Cricket Committee to decide on the names and a formal announcement on the applicants will be made later.”