The Cricket Interview / Bruce Yardley
'I do not favour pampering players'
Unlike their Indian counterparts, Sri Lankan cricket officials have always believed in having a foreign coach for their national
team. They tried the legendary Garfield Sobers to begin with. Then
it was Erapalli Prasanna's turn. Then came Australian
Dave Whatmore. Now there is another Aussie, Bruce
Yardley.
Compared to the others, Yardley's task is
much easier. When he took over from Whatmore, Sri
Lanka had already become one-day cricket champions.
But the former Australian off-spinner had a tough time to begin with. He had problems
dealing with the players; then Sri Lanka failed to live up to its reputation in a couple
of one-day tournaments that followed the Wills World Cup.
Slowly, but surely, the gritty Yardley -- who lost an eye some months ago -- has taken control of the situation and the
players have responded with wiinning fervour. Sri Lanka has once again started winning one-day internationals
almost at will.
The Sri Lankan coach spoke to Haresh Pandya
soon after his arrival in India for the ongoing series:
How does it feel to to be in charge of a winning team
like Sri Lanka?
I am obviously happy to be the Sri Lanka coach. It is a
team of talented individuals. This team is capable of working
wonders on a cricket field.
When you took over from Dave Whatmore, what goals had you set for yourself
I was lucky that most things were in the right place
when I was appointed coach. The important thing was that
Sri Lanka had just won the World Cup. People often ask me if I
was under any sort of pressure taking over from Whatmore who had
played a key role in Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign. But it wasn't
like that. I was given a very good and experienced team and I
had to make only a few adjustments here and there. There had been
a bit of a slump after the World Cup win which I think was fairly
normal. It was only a matter of injecting a new dose of confidence
in the players.
Did you lay down any condition before accepting the Sri Lankan Board's offer?
Not really. It has been a good offer. And it has been a pleasure
working with the Sri Lankan team. We had a few tense times early
on when players didn't quite understand a thing or two about
what I had been trying to implement. The guys are looking good.
And that is heartening.
In what way is your style different from Whatmore?
Whatmore did a great job. When he took over he had to
do a lot of things. Eventually he helped Sri Lanka become
world champions. I did have an opportunity
to speak to him when I took over from him. He is one of
those coaches who tends to make many decisions during the match.
But I am not like him. Once we decide a thing or two at team meetings, I leave it to the captain and his players to
do the job on the field.
Unlike Whatmore, I am never keen on running
the team from the sidelines. I think as coaches if we get
too involved with these guys while they are on the field, we destroy
their individuality sometimes. I don't think that's fair on
any player.
How much say do you have enjoy in the selection
of the Sri Lankan team?
If you mean a vote in the team's selection, I don't have any.
But I do have a say in the selection process. And I think my views
and suggestions are well respected by the selectors.
South African coach Bob Woolmer is known to depend
on his laptop. Are you also a computer buff?
No. I am capable of doing things without a computer. I mainly
work on the basics of the game -- I work very much on the simple
basics. I know the computer has become part of the game but I think
the real computer is the captain on the field. It is he who has
got to make things work once he's out there in the middle.
Sports psychology has entered the realm of cricket. Do
you believe in sports psychology?
Yes. Definitely. It's a huge part of coaching today.
How do you employ this psychology with your players?
I talk to them. I get them to believe in themselves, their abilities.
Some guys might need a professional psychologist. But I think
I can pretty well get through without one. I've been coaching
for a long time now. I know that if you have players who are
champions but who are a bit down, who are out of form, the problem is generally
in the mind. You have to get them back on track. It's as simple
as that. Sports psychology does help here.
When somebody is badly out of form, what do you do?
Oh, you sack him first of all! He has to go away. Some players
get dropped and come back stronger. I am not too much in favour
of pampering the players. I am pretty matter of fact. What happens
is that generally there is a basic little flaw in their technique.
If you get that right, if you pick up their minds, you can get
things going. Confidence, mental toughness and attitude count
a lot in cricket.
Did you have any offer from the Australian Cricket Board before
you join the Sri Lankan team?
No. I had been doing my own coaching business. I had been combining
coaching, commentary and guest-speaking appearances. I had a pretty
good life even before I became a professional coach. I enjoy coaching
and I always lay much stress on the basics of the game.
Can a team do without a coach?
It can. It can. But then there is so much cricket being played
now. And there is so much travelling, too. So you need someone
to sort things out. Off the field, I mean. Of course, once the
team goes on the field, the captain takes over. That's my view.
It is said the Sri Lankan authorities are thinking of hiring Garfield Sobers. He might join you for the 1999 World Cup campaign.
I don't know anything about that. No one has said anything to
me about this. Yes, I've read something like this in newspapers.
But if he joins him, I will welcome him as a specialist batting
coach. But I am the coach.
Sri Lanka has been performing brilliantly in one-day cricket.
But it does not do even half of it when it comes to the serious business
of Test cricket. When will Sri Lanka become a force to reckon
with in Tests?
We still have a long way to go with regard to improving our performances
in Tests. Our bowling has to improve and our batsmen have to come
to grips with fast, seam bowling. We went to New Zealand early
this year and the guys were struggling. These are the very batsmen
who had been there before and that really surprised me. I found
them struggling on seaming pitches.
Even in the one-day tournament
final in Lahore the other night we saw this when the South Africans
bowled a magnificent line and length and moved the ball beautifully.
Our guys were just a bit sluggish on their feet to the moving
ball. So the more we improve on this front, the better we will
be. We need to play countries like Australia, England, South Africa
and the West Indies a bit more.
Would you subscribe to the view that Sanath Jayasuriya is the
Vivian Richards of modern cricket?
He is definitely the Viv Richards of one-day cricket. But he is
just making his way in Test cricket.
What is the secret of Sri Lanka's success in the World Cup
and thereafter?
Talent. Just basic natural talent. I see so much talent in most
of the Sri Lankan cricketers.
Is talent the only reason why Sri Lanka is a powerful one-day
side?
Talent has to be there first of all. Of course, another reason
is our team's allround strength. It gives a tremendous balance
to the team in one-day cricket.
When will Sri Lanka eventually become a world-beater in Test
cricket also?
Probably by 2000. Meanwhile, we will keep surprising
many teams.
EARLIER INTERVIEW:
'Sri Lanka is the best in the world!'
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