Into the cauldron of Indian cricket

As a batsman Gary Kirsten did not have the flamboyant array of strokes at his disposal that many of his teammates possessed.

As a player the South African did not have the superior assertive attitude to the game so common of his compatriots and the Aussies.

But all that never mattered because his determination and ability of side-stepping weaknesses and making the most of his strengths led Kirsten to the realm of cricketing greatness.

It is a similar realm that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would have had in mind when they appointed Kirsten as coach earlier this year with the objective of producing the best team in the world.

However, while the former opening batsman had been the cornerstone to his country's batting for over a decade, he had no formal coaching experience and why the richest board in cricket would turn to such a candidate was a surprise to even Kirsten himself– although he is optimistic that he can succeed.

"The opportunity came as a surprise," says Kirsten, who was in Abu Dhabi recently as a guest of HSBC. "Although, it was an incredible honour and privilege to be offered the position.

"I got the feeling they [the BCCI] thought I would respond very well to the Indian players because the way I played my cricket was very similar to many of their players. I'm not an 'in-your-face', high-profile type individual who comes across aggressively at people. I prefer to influence people in their decision making in a positive way. They are probably hoping that I can pass this message on to the younger players in the team."

Coaching in a country where cricket is almost a second religion to many is a daunting challenge, as former India coach Greg Chappell can affirm. The Australian witnessed numerous effigies of himself been burnt in anger by fans as his brash style and India's ensuing failures led him to become extremely unpopular and eventual sacking.

Kirsten though, foreseeing such problems, enters with a different mindset and a unique strategy. The new coach has launched his own website, where, through written columns, he shares his thoughts and the team development with the public and the media, while also fielding any questions submitted – thus making every fan feel a part of the team.

"The external environment is going to be the biggest challenge as coach," says the left-handed batsman, who retired in 2004 after scoring 7289 Test – a South African record until overtaken by Jacques Kallis recently – and 6798 ODI runs. "The key will be to manage relationships with the media, but also to make sure we continue to win games because we know the Indian public are really passionate about their team.

"We also need the team to reach out to the fans as much as possible. While this is difficult in a way because the players have such superstar status in their country, forums need to be created so that people can understand what we are trying to do."

Another unique step being implemented in India is the appointment of a full-time psychologist or 'mental conditioning' coach, in Paddy Upton. It is the first time an international cricket team has had a trainer of this kind on a full-time basis and Kirsten is quick to advertise the benefits.

"Mental conditioning is being used in different sports all over world, as well as in business," says the 40-year old who has already successfully negotiated his first series which ended in a 1-1 draw against South Africa. "Certainly, if you look at most of the top sportsmen, mental conditioning has been critical to their success.

"We have done some interesting workshops with both international and domestic players and identified that over 90 per cent of the time, the reason a player got out was due to a mental error. Yet, we spend 90 per cent of the time working on our technique in the nets. So, now is the time we need to start focusing on what's happening between the ears.

"I think this is something that is incredibly important in life. We need to understand what we are capable of as individuals, and know what we can do in pressure situations. No amount of hitting balls in the nets can tell you that, but having someone who can facilitate your awareness about what's happening upstairs, can."

Kirsten reveals that this mental sloppiness was one the features of past Indian teams. He shared this thought with the members of the present team after one of the first questions he was asked when he met the team was about what he had noticed when he was playing against them.

"I told them: 'We [the South African team] knew if we got out a few key players, we could easily run though the whole Indian line-up. But what I noticed in Australia was completely opposite. There, the guys were willing to keep fighting.

"Whether the Harbarjan incident [now infamous spat with Andrew Symonds] united the team and brought them together and the fighting spirit out, I don't know, but I certainly got the feeling now even the No10 batsman is willing to get in line and take it on the body.

"That third Test [in Perth which India won by 72 runs] was very important for Indian cricket because it gave them the belief that even in a very hostile environment, they can mix it with the best.

"There is just a few bits and pieces that need to be ironed out around the edges and hopefully, we remain relatively injury free so that there can be consistent selections. If that happens, this team is now very close to being No1 in the world. With that in mind, we have set ourselves the goal to win every Test series from now till April next year."

Now for the question that has been hotly debated recently: What does Kirsten think of the Indian Premier League and will Twenty20 cricket affect Tests?

"The IPL and Twenty20 is the future of the game," says Kirsten. "We are in the entertainment business so we need to create a product that can generate interest and I think the IPL has done just that.

"People have said to me that's too much, but I don't think their can ever be enough. If you look at the population of India and the interest in cricket there, you can have a game every night and you can fill stadiums.

"As far as affecting Tests goes, it has done it a lot of good. It has created a bigger disparity between the shortened form and the five day game – it has enhanced Test's status as the sole of cricket.

"With the IPL Twenty20, we are in for some interesting times. We are grappling with our product at the moment. It is global and has been a huge success, but I suppose we are living in a dynamic world with a changing landscape and the cricket landscape as a entertainment has changed and we need to move with the times."