Chis Gayle is one of those modern day batsmen, who with his big-hitting, has changed the way T20 cricket is played © Getty
There was a time during the heady days of the One-Day International (ODI) format when bowlers practiced long hours trying to master the slower delivery, which often came in handy during the death overs. They would also try to develop the low full toss to surprise batsmen and check the flow of runs.
However, with the advent of Twenty20s, such formulae have suddenly become archaic, finding their way out the window: no delivery is safe once batsmen decide to go on the rampage. There are players like AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli who can, seemingly at will, suck life out of the opposing bowlers with their strokeplay.
Such situations have enhanced the significance of a team's tactical acumen and ability to strategise, magnifying the role of the coach. Coaches are now expected to come up with quick solutions that will help their side outwit opponents on a consistent basis. With very little time in the T20 format to make correct calls, coaches must also help captains develop the ability to think on their feet.
"Coaches can have more inputs in the longer format, in which you can plan strategies properly. Here, you have to be very open-minded," says Pravin Amre, the former Mumbai coach, said.
"The nature of T20 [cricket] is such that you have to train players to grow in their roles. After all, they are the ones battling it out in the middle and are expected to make split-second decisions. Coaches have to be more open and practical in a sense that the situation in a game is changing with every ball," he adds.
Former India wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya, who has been an assistant coach with Kolkata Knight Riders for some time now, feels the mindset of players have changed with the evolution of the sport. "Things have changed because players have evolved according to the demands of the format. In T20s, one needs to get on with the game. The strategy keeps changing, unlike in Tests or ODIs where you can think about your decisions and rework them," he said. "You have to have plans A, B and C in place because things change every over. Short goals are planned and players are expected to execute them well."
Dahiya feels specialist coaches have become very important to a team's plans simply because it's not possible for one or two coaches to handle the large squads."The captain or the head coach can't be doing everything by himself and he needs inputs. That's where specialists come into play."
With so many experts in the support staff, what exactly is the role of the head coach? Amre insists the head coach largely plays a supervisory role, where he is filtering inputs from other coaches in the side and taking the decision that he feels is best for the team.
Dahiya says the man-management skills of the chief coach is tested to the hilt in T20s. "There are guys in the team who won't be playing. You need to manage them and keep them motivated. So, man management skills are very important."
COACHES: T20 REPORT CARD
INDIA: RAVI SHASTRI
Shastri was roped in during India's tour of England when very little was going right for the team.
Since then, though, fortunes have been on the upswing.
Matches 16 I Won 11 I Lost 5 I Tied 0
PAKISTAN: WAQAR YOUNIS
Former Pakistan paceman Waqar Younis, in his second stint with the team, has enjoyed modest success. The team's show in the Asia Cup, 2016 left a lot to be desired.
Matches 20 I Won 10 I Lost 9 I Tied 1
AUSTRALIA: DARREN LEHMANN
Australia have been successful under Darren Lehmann, a wonderful motivator who has been around for almost three years now. However, T20 cricket may not be on the team's priority list.
Matches 22 I Won 12 I Lost 10 I Tied 0
ENGLAND: TREVOR BAYLISS
Having enjoyed success with the Indian Premier League (IPL) side Knight Riders, Bayliss took over the reins of England last year and has managed to turn around the team's fortunes.
Matches 7 I Won 4 I Lost 2 I Tied 1
SRI LANKA: GRAHAM FORD
This is Ford's second stint with the Lankans - the earlier one stretched from Jan 2012 to Jan 2014, in which they won 11 out of 20 T20 games - but with the team in transition, he has a tough job at hand.
Matches 7 I Won 2 I Lost 6 I Tied 0
SOUTH AFRICA: RUSSELL DOMINGO
Domingo has been in charge of the Proteas for almost three years, with a pretty impressive record in the shortest format of the game.
Matches 30 I Won 17 I Lost 13 I Tied 0
WEST INDIES: PHIL SIMMONS
West Indies have barely featured in T20 clashes since Simmons took charge and they enjoy a 50:50 record.
Matches 2 I Won 1 I Lost 1 I Tied 0
NEW ZEALAND: MIKE HESSON
The Kiwis have played a significant number of T20s under Hesson, who has transformed the unit into a formidable and consistent force.
Matches 37 I Won 18 I Lost 15 I Tied 2 I NR 2
via- TNN
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