Best XI comprising current head coaches in cricket

Coaching in the game of cricket is different from football. While a football coach has a huge impact during the proceedings of a game, it is much lesser in the game of cricket.

However, with the advent of T20 cricket, the role of a coach is increasing. Also, the transition period from a cricketer to a coach has almost decreased and we are coming across many player-cum-coaches too in recent times.

Hence, many cricketers are soon diving into this profession soon after their retirement which is helping the game as a whole. On that note, we have compiled a well-balanced XI of the active head coaches across the globe.

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#4 Openers

Stephen Fleming and Gary Kirsten

Stephen Fleming started his coaching career in the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings. He has won multiple trophies since then and has hence commanded a number of coaching assignments across the globe.

Apart from CSK, Fleming is also a coach in the Big Bash League with Melbourne Stars and also coached a team in the recently concluded T10 trophy. Fleming has a good coaching career ahead of him and it may not be long before we see him coach a country.

Fleming opened the batting for New Zealand for many years. He was also the captain of the Kiwis in three World Cups. He is an influential figure in New Zealand cricket and his experience is being passed on to his teams.

Gary Kirsten was one of the most successful coaches for India as he won the ICC World Cup in 2011. Since then, he has been a part of the South African National team and Delhi Daredevils squad as a coach.

However, he has recently been appointed as the Head Coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore and will look to end their trophy drought. His application to become the coach of the Indian Women's team has failed and his stint in IPL would continue.

Kirsten is probably the best left-handed batsman that South Africa has ever produced. He opened the batting and broke many records with the Proteas which was only overtaken by Jacques Kallis. He also topped the ICC ODI batting charts on many occasions and had a decent captaincy stint too.

#3 Middle-order

Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene and Brad Hodge

Rahul Dravid is India's U-19 coach

Although Rahul Dravid has coached Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils before, his current stint as the coach of the Indian U-19 team has been the best. He is molding the future of the Indian cricket team and his role is very important for India's future.

Dravid's contribution to Indian cricket has been immense. He has scored tons of runs both at home and away which in most cases has been in difficult situations. Dravid was also a reliable wicket-keeper and he took that responsibility for many years despite being one of the best batsmen in the team. He also succeeded Sourav Ganguly as India's captain.

Mahela Jayawardene found success as the coach of Mumbai Indians in his very first season as they won the IPL in 2017. Jayawardene has kept his job since then and has also completed coaching assignments in the T10 league since then. He will continue his coaching stint with Mumbai Indians next season and every Sri Lankan fan would be hoping that he would take the mantle of their current international team very soon.

Jayawardene can be considered as one of the best middle-order batsman produced by Sri Lanka. He has created multiple records in all the format and his century in the final of the 2011 World Cup is still remembered. Sri Lanka became a potent force under Mahela's captaincy.

Jacques Kallis has arguably been the best all-rounder that the world has seen and his coaching stint with KKR has been successful so far. He will be looking to get a trophy next year with the young team.

Kallis will make to any all-time XI because of his astonishing contributions in both the departments of the game. During his playing team, South Africa's performance revolved around him and he did no disappoint them in most cases.

Brad Hodge is a good T20 player and is currently the Head Coach of St Lucia Stars in Caribbean Premier League. He has been the coach of Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab in the past and has built a good reputation as a coach.

After the advent of T20 cricket, Hodge was considered as the best batsman in this format as he held the highest scorer record for many years. He also contributed to the team with his off-spin and was a good fielder. However, his career with Australia did not meet expectations and he retired as a great T20 player.

#2 Wicket-keeper - Mark Boucher

Mark Boucher coaches in the Mzansi Super League

Mark Boucher is a good wicket-keeper batsman who played for the South African team in the past. He also represented RCB in the IPL from 2008 to 2010.

He is the Head Coach of the Tshwane Spartans in the Mzansi Super League and is one of the very few cricketers who has graduated from a wicket-keeper to a cricket coach.

Boucher held almost every record behind the stumps before MS Dhoni arrived. Be it any format, he was a reliable batsman down the order and no one during his time had such an impact as a wicket-keeper like him.

#1 Bowlers

Daniel Vettori, Aaqib Javed, Jason Gillespie and Shane Bond

Jason Gillespie possesses one of the sharpest minds in the modern game

Daniel Vettori is unarguably the greatest spinner to emerge from New Zealand. In a memorable career from 1997 to 2015, he played 442 international matches and picked 705 wickets across all three formats. Aside from his skills as a tight left-arm spinner, he also chipped in with handy runs from the lower-order. The left-hander scored close to 7000 international runs.

Vettori served as head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore between 2014 and 2018. Skipper Virat Kohli has spoken highly of his man-management skills. The former New Zealand captain is the current head coach of Big Bash League side Brisbane Heat.

A member of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning team, Aaqib Javed was renowned for his ability to swing the ball on a consistent basis. The right-arm seamer played 22 Tests and 163 ODIs in a career spanning from 1989 to 1998. He picked 54 wickets in Tests and 182 wickets in ODIs.

Since his retirement, Aaqib has served as head coach of Pakistan's National Cricket Academy. Aside from working with Afghanistan team during their early years, he has also been the head coach of UAE. Currently, the 46-year old is overseeing Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.

Jason Gillespie has established himself as a good coach right now and he has all the qualities to take up the assignment with a cricketing nation very soon. Gillespie is the coach of Surrey in the County and Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League right now.

Gillespie was a great Test match player for Australia as he performed well in almost every condition. He still holds the record for the highest score by a night watchman and he is currently passing on his experience to many teams across the globe,

Shane Bond has been one of the best fast bowlers produced by New Zealand and is currently the head coach of Sydney Thunders in BBL. He will be a part of a potent bowling partnership in this team.

Bond was one of the best fast bowlers during his time. He was highly regarded for his pace and led the Kiwis to victory on numerous occasions. The right-arm pacer is widely regarded as the second best New Zealand fast bowler of all time after the great Sir Richard Hadlee.