“When people talk about me being a foreign coach I don’t feel like a foreign coach because I’ve integrated my thinking, my philosophies and my style of coaching, along with Paddy’s (Upton), into how the Indians go about their business. We are a very happy unit,” Kirsten said.
Is Culture a barrier?
“Because of the culture barrier, that happens naturally here. In cricket time we’re together and outside we go and do our own thing. But I know how tough it is for them. They’re a good side and they’re good people, but they’re almost a paradox in many respects. “
“They’re so very humble, yet they’ve got this superstardom status. You could easily see how it could go to their heads. But it doesn’t. “
“They’re good listeners and they respect your space. “
“I can’t really speak highly enough of them, and I’d have said that whether we were doing well or not,” the former opening batsman told a news paper.
Important contribution
“His contribution is vital. He helps players really understand and fine-tune their minds for performance, at the same time he works extensively at the cutting edge of the art of coaching and man-management,” Kirsten said.
“We’re trying to bring in new thinking but we’re not going to force them to do it. For instance after a game Paddy might say to those that haven’t played: ‘I’m running a shuttle school. If you want to come, come’. And they do. “
“They’re physically different. They must play the game their own way. “
“They play with enormous flair, and they’ve got great hands on the ball. We’ve got to encourage that. “
“The coach is not the man to sit on the parapets in cricket it’s not like soccer.
About the captain DHONI
“He’s got exceptional leadership qualities. He’s a very streetwise cricketer and likes to think out of the box. “
“That’s lovely because I like to think out of the box too. He’s just got that winner’s mind-set: he truly believes this team will win more games than they’ll lose,” Kirsten said.
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