India show they are the ‘I’ in Team

It is a concept that is very much a part of my coaching philosophy. Within the Australian cricket team, we have, and have had, some high achievers in our sport such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden to name but a few.

Each is highly talented, highly motivated to perform. What may not be understood about cricket is that, at any one time, there are 11 individuals wanting to deliver their peculiar brand of skill for a team win.

One of the primary roles of the coach is to combine this group of very skilled individuals into a powerful and, if possible, invincible unit. I believe in the power of ‘‘Team’’. I see the Team as a family, all of whom have a need to express their individuality, while at the same time respecting all other members around them.

To build and maintain this ‘‘family’’ approach, a coach or CEO or manager or team leader must make it a central tenet of their coaching philosophy. In this way, key team values such as honesty, accountability, hard work ethic, innovation; organisational culture drivers like traditions, celebrations, leaders within the group; communication systems such as formal and informal feedback, meetings, performance appraisals — all will contribute to enhancing the unity of purpose and direction of the group.

Should individuals choose not to accept, or accept conditionally, that the team is greater than the individual, then that individual is answerable for their actions to the ‘‘code’’ of the group. Within the Australian cricket team, there is a ‘‘spirit of cricket’’ code to which all members have agreed recently.

Having now watched India throughout the Test Series and the past two ODIs, it has become obvious that they have made much larger strides in this area of team management than I believe we have given them credit.

Such changes in a culture or ethos within a team can be pretty exciting but also quite confusing for individuals — and, at worst, potentially divisive. It seems, to an outsider looking in, there is a real excitement about what has been begun over these last couple of series. If India wish to continue the progress they have made in this area, it is critical they retain the main architects of such reform and not seek to move too quickly before the foundations are properly set.

A quick glance at both India and Australia at the moment would suggest that the trends from the Test series are still evident through the ODI series. These include India relying on their top order to set up or chase a win; relying on the youthful aggressiveness of Pathan, Nehra and Agarkar to take early wickets with the new ball to reduce the strike power of the Australian batting order; and being able to play a containment strategy. For ODIs, the containment occurs through the middle overs with the pace taken off the ball by Kumble, Kartik, Gavaskar, Sehwag and Yuvraj.

Meanwhile, all of us have been shocked by the tragedy of David Hookes’s death in Melbourne. The former Australian Test player and Victoria coach and media commentator died after not recovering from a coma after suffering injuries and heart failure from a post-match celebration incident.

It is at times like these that some other religions than Christianity may be more helpful in trying to understand why such deaths occur; or at least help with the process of rejoicing in his life, the legacies he has left and knowing his journey continues elsewhere.

(Gameplan)