Anil Kumble’s appointment as the coach of the Indian side has been met with a positive response from all quarters. The 45 year-old, India’s most successful Test bowler with 619 wickets, was known for his indomitable spirit and aggressive nature on the field. As a coach, he is expected to carry on in the same vein, bringing a winning attitude to the side.
Kumble also has the distinction of captaining India in 14 Tests between 2007 and 2008, winning three matches and drawing six. In lieu of his appointment, we take a look at five other captains who went on to become head coaches of the same national side.
John Wright
An accomplished opening batsman, Wright was the first New Zealander to compile 4000 Test runs. Part of a side that had a successful run in the early 1980s, Wright scored 12 centuries in 82 Tests, with a high score of 185. He also had the distinction of scoring a Test ton against each of the then six Test playing nations. He was led the side from 1987 to 1990, captaining them in 14 Tests.
The second innings of his career, as a coach, extended his legacy to a whole different level. Known for his hugely successful tenure as India’s coach from 2000-2005, Wright was made the head coach of the Black Caps in 2010. He coached the Kiwis to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals, also getting to their first Test win in Australia in 26 years.
Javed Miandad
One of the finest Pakistani batsmen, Miandad played the first six World Cups for his country, scoring more than 7000 runs in ODIs and 8000 in Tests. Known for his proficiency square of the wicket, he was also a great runner between the sticks and was an aggressive ODI batsmen. Best remembered, perhaps, for his last ball six against Chetan Sharma in 1987, Miandad was the captain of the national side from 1980-1993, winning 26 ODIs and 14 Tests.
Having retired from the game post the 1996 World Cup, Miandad returned to coach the side for three terms, the first of whose started in 1998. His stint started successfully, with a drawn Test series against India and a Sharjah Cup win, but handed his resignation days before the 1999 World Cup. He returned in 2000, winning the Sharjah Cup and a tri-series in West Indies, but was sacked the very next year in the wake of match-fixing.
He returned for the third time after the 2003 World Cup, winning the Sharjah Cup one more time, but wasn’t persisted with, and made way for Bob Woolmer in 2004. He came back as a batting consultant in 2012.
Waqar Younis is another Pakistani captain who went on to coach the national side.
Ajit Wadekar
One of India’s best captains and finest slip fielders, Wadekar instilled a winning attitude in an Indian team that were poor travellers abroad. Generally coming in at No.3, he made more than 2000 runs in 37 Tests, captaining the nation to its first ever series wins in England and West Indies. He led India in a total of 16 Tests, winning four and losing as many. Having made his Test debut at the age of 25 in 1966, he played till the year 1974 before retiring.
He returned in 1992 in the capacity of a coach, his tenure coinciding with the emergence of Mohammad Azharuddin as the captain. Under him, the team completed a 3-0 win in England, and remained unbeaten in Tests for a stretch of 14 matches from 1992 to 1994.
Kapil Dev, a World Cup winning captain, is another notable name from India, who also coached the side briefly from 1999-2000, but wasn’t as successful.
Marvan Atapattu
The right-handed opening batsman, who played for Sri Lanka from 1990 to 2007, made a solid combination at the top of the order with Sanath Jayasuriya, his more aggressive partner. Having compiled over 14,000 international runs, Atapattu provided his side consistent starts at the top. As the ninth Test captain of Sri Lanka, he led the side to 8 Test wins in 18 matches, as well as 37 ODI wins in 63 matches.
He started his international coaching career with assignments in Canada and Singapore, Made the batting coach post the 2011 World Cup, he rose through the ranks to become the head coach in 2014, the first local coach for the Sri Lankans in 15 years. However, after consecutive Test series defeats, he retired the very next year.
Bob Simpson
Robert Simpson donned many caps, as a player, captain, coach, and later commentator for Australia. He scored 10 centuries for them in 63 Tests, including a career best of 311, and also took 73 wickets with his leg breaks. 1381 of his 4869 Test runs were made in the year 1964 itself, a record at that time. As a captain, he led the side in 39 Tests, winning 12 of those over two stints from 1963-64 to 1977-78. He also made a comeback to lead the side in the rebel league, the World Series Cricket.
He was appointed the coach of the national side in 1986, and held the position for ten years. Under him, Australia are most notably known for winning the 1987 World Cup, an event which catapulted the Australians into a dominating side throughout the 1990s. Australia also regained the Ashes in 1989.
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