The Hindu : Sport : It's an honour, it's going to be exciting, says Prasad

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Thursday, Apr 26, 2007
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It's an honour, it's going to be exciting, says Prasad

Vijay Lokapally

The tour to Bangladesh would be a test of his skills to communicate and teach

Venkatesh Prasad. — PHOTO: PTI

NEW DELHI: He has kept himself trim and fit and can easily pass off as one of the players. He blushes when you ask him the secret of his youth but Venkatesh Prasad, 37, could well slip into the role of a bowling coach with elan, demonstrating what he wants to preach.

Prasad and Javagal Srinath formed one of the most lethal opening pair of bowlers in Indian cricket. For his awesome potential, Prasad remained an under-achiever (96 Tests and 196 ODI wickets) but was known to strike on big occasions. The two tense World Cup matches against Pakistan in 1996 and 1999 saw him swing the contest with decisive spells.

Elated

The gangling fast bowler from Bangalore was elated at being appointed India's bowling coach. On his new role, he responded with warmth, "It's an honour to work with the team I have played for. It's going to be exciting and I am looking forward to this challenge. It's a step taken (by the BCCI) in the right direction and I hope my association with the team continues for a longer period of time."

In times when the support staff plays an important role in shaping a team's approach, Prasad noted the significance of a bowling coach. "A bowling coach handles a specific department for the benefit of the team management as it is a specialised job, in making sure the bowlers deliver the goods. You need to exploit the huge talent within the team and it can best be achieved with trust, faith and understanding with the concerned player. It helps if the player is able to recognise his strengths and weaknesses and improve by making use of the technology. There is no room for excuses. A youngster has to have quality practice, a good physical training programme and adequate rest and recovery."

Prasad has come through the grind, having worked with the juniors during their formative years. "There is plenty of talent and potential in the country and the responsibility for me is even greater as I travel across the country to spot the talent and harness them. I have worked with almost all the present set of young fast bowlers (at the National Cricket Academy). They are eager to learn and are willing to adjust and adapt to different conditions."

Smooth transition

Known for his patience, Prasad found the transition from playing to coaching quite smooth. He said, "To become a coach, one has to be a good listener, should have good communication skills and have the feel for technology. Once I quit playing, I concentrated on becoming a coach. I attended many coaching courses and learnt to understand and study the game. I really wanted to be a coach.

How does he look at the job? "I am optimistic. I should be in a position to convince a player. Playing the game is one thing and teaching the nuances of the game is another. By now I have spent around five years in coaching different age groups at the NCA, India U-19's and the Karnataka State team. So the transition has been pretty smooth. I have so far enjoyed it just as I have relished bowling to different batsmen around the world in tiring conditions."

Immediate task

His immediate task is to prepare the bowlers best for the international challenge. "Being tough mentally and adapting quickly is the most challenging aspect for a bowler. You have to keep on coming at the opponents no matter what the situation. Adaptability concerns coming to terms with pitch and weather conditions, changing situations in the game, bowling to top class batsmen around the world. In England the length varies and if you are bowling at Lord's with the slope the line also needs to change, depending upon the end you are bowling from. The line and length vary again in South Africa or Australia or New Zealand. It's different from bowling in the sub-continent. The sooner a bowler adapts the better it is for the team and himself."

Prasad has his plans in place. The tour to Bangladesh would be a test of his skills to communicate and teach, and get the best out of the bowlers.

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