But it certainly does not absolve the BCCI of its responsibility. The fiasco has merely highlighted the board's ineptitude in finding the right man for the job. India were sent packing from the World Cup long before the April-fool jokes were sent out, yet no serious attempt was made to draw up a shortlist of replacements for Greg Chappell.

Even as Ravi Shastri was appointed caretaker coach for the tour of Bangladesh, the whispers behind the scenes kept throwing up one name - Dav Whatmore. In addition to an impressive resume, Whatmore had revealed his interest in the job and, when certain top BCCI officials spoke to him in Dhaka, it appeared a done deal.

When it comes to Indian cricket, though, you should never believe what you see or read. Yesterday's flavour became today's bitter aftertaste as Whatmore's name was cut from the list of probables a week ago. Influential folk within the team, and on the seven-man committee appointed to choose the coach, were said to be against him and it was thus that Ford moved
into pole position.

What followed illustrated just how low Indian cricket's stock has fallen. To create the illusion of a contest for a job that had once interested so many, the board roped in Emburey, a man with no coaching credentials to speak of. If anything, it was a slap in the face of the homegrown
candidates. Had there been a viable second option - Tom Moody and Desmond Haynes were in contention when Chappell got the job - the BCCI could have turned to him after Ford's rebuff.

By not advertising for the post or sending out feelers as soon as Chappell left for Australia, the board seriously overestimated its own hand. The promise of a big fat payday may lure those more mercenary but a top-level coach requires all sorts of assurances before taking up a job of
such magnitude. Freedom to choose one's own support staff and the autonomy to chart out a long-term plan - in consultation with the captain - are of paramount importance to the best in the business, as is involvement at some level in team selection.

It's also worth noting that the last two Indian coaches were chosen by the players. Rahul Dravid was instrumental in John Wright's arrival from Kent, and Sourav Ganguly played a pivotal role in Chappell being appointed. It's no secret that the move to bring in Ford also had the blessing of the team's seniors. Whether that's a healthy trend is debatable, since part of the coach's job description undoubtedly involves tough love when the team is going astray.

What are the options now? As Sunil Gavaskar, one of the members on the committee that offered Ford the job, has said, the board is back where it started. Squads will be selected on Tuesday to tour Ireland and England and there is no time to find a coach to accompany the team. Will they find one before more serious business, India's Test series against England, begins?

For a start, do they even know where to look? This is an embarrassment that the BCCI has brought upon itself.

I think another one-series coach will be appointed for the England tour, Ravi Shastri may again be in the hot seat. Beyond that, I see nothing. Who am I
to guess what trick will emerge from the BCCI magic hat?

Why are we only runnin after foreign coaches when there are superb players available at home?The BCCI does not seem to have any confidence in Indain coaches.It will only take Indian crciket to a new low.

Sad to say,BCCI has to be more professional.It has created an impression that with its financial muscle, it can call the shots - always. It is not the money that professionals always look for - especially the reputed coaches. What they want is non-interference and freedom to move forward with thier plans. We never seem to be learning from our past experiences. Expected more professionalism from the board. Mind you, it is always India's name that gets battered in international sports circles - not that of the people who call the shots. I am not telling we should not safeguard our cricketing interests. But do your home work more professionally.

With experienced players like Amarnath and Sandeep Patil available as coaches, why are we hunting for foreign coaches? The people know the culture and our system very well and that's why the Board and senior players are not in their favour. They want somebody who can toe their line. The way they are managing the affairs, I dont see a bright future for Indian cricket

BCCI is totally messed up. Most of the people in the board are in it for money. I always how much corruption goes on with these officials. Vegsarkar's repeated mediocre selections. I suspect it wouldn't be too long before I move on to following some other games than cricket

Mohinder Amarnath is a good choice. We need somebody with passion and fire. or if possible call John Wright back.

BCCI and the captain wants foreign coach why ?
are there no good coaches in India we are so bad
then where did all the good players came from they were not coached by foreigners. all you need is bowlling and fielding coach and the trainers at that level and the manager and a strong captain and not Rahul Dravid who cannot take instant decision

Forget the coach, we need to rethink how we play cricket. India should stop laying international cricket for a few years. fix the domestic structure, stop being scared of green tops, change the individual-above-team mentality and then think oh now we need a coach. But I think winning lotto three weeks in a row is easier to do than what I said above!

Arjuna Ranatunga is the ideal candidate for the coaching job. Go, get him! He will instill a great fighting spirit into the Indian team!

It is the players who win the game,not the coach. Let us stop hunting for a foreign coach , employ one of our men for the job. This will at least save BCCI from (Ford)embrassment .

Its Sunil Gavaskar, who is responcible for all this mess. Whats the point in calling Emburey to give a presentation, what they wanted to prove here by putting a dummy candidate. How Gavaskar have felt being a dummy candidate.

Its not that late, we still have time to appoint a coach before the English tour, pick Sandeep Patil with a minimum of 2 year contract, there are Robin Singh & Prasad as support staff already and let these people settle before expecting a immediate result.

I don't understand why we need a foreign coach for our national team? Why not put faith in our own people and give them a chance to prove their worth? Who knows our players better than a foreign coach? This will not only uplift the moral of the team it will also bring pride in the job homegrown coach will do for the team.

Its become a Joke! BCCI grossly over estimated its clan. I guess with chappell episode, now every one knows what to expect from india coaching job. Thats what is haunting us.

I think Cricket is no more a sport .With a Politician as the head he is installing politics and money power and with players like gavaskar and ravi shastri who have always played for themselves,indian cricket is in a big mess.

India's cricket woes would not be solved by not playing. A foreign coach is a good idea simply because he isn't tied up with the politics that are so obvious from BCCI level down to the players. Greg Chappell tried but he wasn't strong enough to outlast the politics. For the same reason Pakistan will struggle to get the right man. A previous writer was quite correct. It is more than the money. I don't think the BCCI have woken up to that yet.

The developments in "The Graham Ford" episode are no accident. It is a defenite snub-probably a sub-plot in a larger design to derail our confidence, for which we hardly need any external help.
The least the board can do is to file a suit against the coach, stressing on the 'plot' theory. The aim is not to win the case, but to make it clear to all and sundry, that we have seen through the plot. Let the coach say what changed between his interview with The NDTV and his meeting with the board officials- wheteher it was the conditions put down by the board (The secretary has unequivocally stated that they did not put down any conditions) or what he ate on the flight! If the board stops short of such action, it will have to be understood as admission of a mistake that they made.

Amir Khan of Lagaan fame is my choice.

Do we actually need a coach ? What exactly does a coach do for an international cricket team that cannot be done by a cricket manager, captain and a competetent support staff ? Maybe we need to rethink our strategy a little bit.

what india needs is a strong domestic cricket. every player should play in austrlian fast pitches. start afresh. nobody is going to join one year contract. if u want a foreign coach think long term and ready for early pain. money alone doesnt give u a good coach. coach is only a part. india has become laughing stock.sorry

Hi Messes are churning up like anything, and not to mention just when India celebrates its 75 years as a test nation, we have a team on tour without a coach and a manager, what will all this lead to.
Smart Alec - Cricket Blog

The turning point of te 1st Test match between England & India was the way India bowled to Kevin Pietersen..

The surprising thing about the first test between India & England is Rahul Dravid did not use Ganguly or Sachin in the second Innings, besides, he was not even having a semi defensive field....why?