Mahendra Singh Dhoni is among the busiest of international players © AFP

Much as I enjoyed watching the Indian Premier League from a distance, it has been fantastic to resume my job with India. In many ways, it was frustrating to interrupt the process immediately after my first series, against South Africa, but we're back on track and I'm excited by the challenges ahead.

The Asia Cup is almost unique in that, outside of official ICC tournaments, it is one of the very few places where Test-playing nations compete against 'minor' teams on an equal footing.

Although Hong Kong and the UAE may not be competitive at this stage, I am completely comfortable with their involvement. One day they may arrive at the Asia Cup with a view to winning it rather than just avoiding heavy defeats, but that day will never arrive if they are not invited now.

Matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, of course, are always extremely serious and competitive fixtures while Bangladesh routinely prove that, although they still lose more games than they win, they can beat all of the best teams in a one-off situation, so there is plenty to keep us on our toes.

Both Paddy Upton and I have been spending quality time with the players on a one-on-one basis as we prepare for our first game and we will continue to do that throughout the tournament. Mental techniques in cricket have occupied as much time as technical issues and it has been extremely important for all of us to get to know each other individually because the one-day squad is now substantially different to the Test squad.

And I am happy with that situation. I believe age does play a role in the performances of most players and, equally, I don't believe that many players are suited to all three forms of the game. In fact, I don't even believe, necessarily, that those players who are suited to one-day cricket should play in every game.

One of my most important tasks as head coach will be to implement a rotation policy for the national squads in order to keep our best players rested and fresh. It won't be easy – it never is – but I'm sure there is a sufficient level of maturity and understanding among the players to accept that there is simply too much cricket for any single player to perform at his best all the time.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is probably the most obvious example of a man needing a break. In my own experience, by the time a player is feeling tired or 'flat', it is already too late to rest him. The rest needs to happen before fatigue sets in. MS is a brilliant cricketer and the sort of man who is happy to play every game, but he knows that it is not practical. Fatigue can lead to loss of form as well as injuries, both of which can adversely affect a player's long-term career.

Anyway, it will take time to get it right. And it won't be a perfect science.

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June 13, 2008

IPL and beyond

Posted on 06/13/2008 in

	Gary Kirsten: "I was pleasantly surprised to find a group of individuals who have very quickly adapted their thinking and their skills to the longer version of the one-day game" © AFP

It was great to return to India after the IPL and begin a tour with the one-day team with whom I had not worked before. I was a little apprehensive about how the first few days with this team would unfold as I felt there would be a major "hangover" from hustle and bustle of the 20-over game.

But I was pleasantly surprised to find a group of individuals who have very quickly adapted their thinking and their skills to the longer version of the one-day game. I was also encouraged by their desire to play for India again and what it means to each one of these players to represent their country.

Many people have asked me about my thoughts on the IPL and whether this style of cricket will influence the way 50-over cricket and even Test cricket is played. In my opinion, they are three totally different formats, each requiring completely different sets of skills.

The most successful batsmen in the IPL appeared to be the players who could get the ball to the boundary, in unconventional ways, more consistently than others. A lot of this was pure "power hitting" - baseball style, with players setting a good base to swing from, squaring up there shoulders through contact and driving through with their hips to gain maximum power.

Naturally, because of variable conditions, the risk of this style of play is high and not necessarily suited to the 50-over format where boundary options with less risk are required.

I believe the more ‘conventional’ player, who still has boundary-hitting ability, will be more successful and not exploited by quality fast bowling in 50-over cricket. Whereas a 50-run partnership in five overs will play a huge part in the success of a Twenty 20 game, the same result in a 50-over game, while being very handy, will not necessarily prove to be match-winning.

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