In search for talent, John Wright turns to Ranji Trophy

Both Pathan and Wright go a long way back. It was under the New Zealander’s tenure as a coach that Irfan had made his international debut in Australia. By the time Wright’s five-year tenure as a coach had ended, Irfan was on way to becoming India’s prime all-rounder.

“I heard he is back after a lay-off…its really good to seem him back in the middle,” the Mumbai Indians coach said about the all-rounder, who has had a start-stop career because of injuries.

Wright, under whose reign India reached the finals of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, voiced concern over the Indian bowling line-up for the 2015 edition. “In terms of batting, this team is as exciting as the 2011 side, but if it has to retain the World Cup, bowling needs to click.”

‘Axar has potential’

He picked Virat Kohli and Axar Patel as his favourite Indian cricketers. “Virat is in ominous form with the bat. He will be instrumental in India’s progress in the World Cup. Axar is another youngster with loads of potential. He has done well in the IPL and will be a value addition as a batsmen and a bowler Down Under,” he said.

Wright said teams such as South Africa and New Zealand were in form, but he didn’t place his bets on a particular team as he said it is an “open event”, and on the given day “any team can beat anyone.”

Playing in Australia ahead of the World Cup, he says, will give India a distinct advantage. The former India coach added that for any team to prosper at the World Cup, it is imperative that it gets a good start upfront. “In World Cups, its important to get a good start and get the momemtum going…India managed to do that under Dhoni in the 2011 edition, we did it in the 1992 World Cup under Martin Crowe.”

On his home team, he said: “We have got Bredon McCullum, Kane Willamson and Ross Taylor is in top form. The young bowlers have also done well, especially the seamers,” he said.

On a personal front, the 2015 World Cup will be quite significant for the New Zealander. The opening ceremony of the premier ICC event will take place at Hagley Oval in his native Christchurch.

Setting record straight

He was nostalgic about the 1992 World Cup in Australia-New Zealand. Opening for his team against arch-rivals Australia in that edition’s first game at Eden Park, Auckland, Wright holds the dubious distinction of being out on the very first ball of the tournament. “Well, it was technically not the first ball of the tournament. I think the first ball was a no-ball,” he said.