'The way they bowled is frustrating'

There are many similarities between India's outgoing bowling coach Eric Simons and his predecessor Venkatesh Prasad. Amol Karhadkar reports. Bowling woes

There are many similarities between India's outgoing bowling coach Eric Simons and his predecessor Venkatesh Prasad.

Simons, who will pass on the baton to Australia's Joe Dawes at the end of the ongoing CB Series, as well as Prasad joined up in Bangladesh, in 2010 and 2007 respectively. Their tenure would also be almost the same.

But more importantly, their stints with India have been constantly marked by Ishant Sharma's highs and lows with the red cherry.

No explanation
When Prasad was axed in October 2009, true to its style of functioning, the Indian board didn't give any official explanation. But team members and Board officials had cited the former India paceman's failure to stop Ishant's slide.

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Though Simons wasn't summarily sacked like Prasad, he has repeatedly come under the scanner for Ishant's inability to convert his talent into consistent wicket-taking.

During his 25-minute media interaction at The Gabba on Friday, Simons repeatedly praised Ishant's skill and said he was unlucky with "edges flying between and over the slips". But he ultimately conceded that the Delhi bowler's failure to graduate to the next level was his biggest disappointment.

"I think Ishant has moved forward — absolutely no doubt. I would have loved him to have taken four five-wicket hauls in England. But sometimes we have to be careful to judge and not get too carried away by the outcome. Maybe I shall look back in a year's time and maybe I shall get some pleasure from the fact that some work we put in now will pay dividends in the years ahead."

Tricky situation
Simons, like most of India's coaching staff over the last two years, has had to work with a lot of limitations.

With the captain and the national selectors sharing a topsy-turvy relationship, someone like Simons had to make do with whatever was offered to him.

But Simons preferred not to comment on it. Asked if he thought the selectors and team management were not on the same page and whether the coach should have a vote in selection, the former South Africa coach said, “I would rather not comment on the process of the BCCI. It's easy for me to sit and look from just my perspective, but there are a lot of issues involved.

Keeping silent
For me to comment would be naïve. I know there is a lot of engagement. Selectors are always there. I am sure the communication is good.”

All that one hopes is Simons will not be so politically correct during his exit interview with the BCCI bigwigs.

But with the BCCI set-up, isn't it too much to ask for something like an exit interview to be conducted?