5 most underrated coaches in cricket history

John Wright Sourav Ganguly
John Wright's symbiosis with Sourav Ganguly was instrumental to India's renaissance

Unlike in football wherein managers can be often seen shouting instructions from the sidelines and are hence juxtaposed with the successes of prominent teams, the value of coaches is usually understated in cricket . With most of the top teams at the international level containing several star cricketers, the presence of sane heads in the dressing room becomes extremely essential to handle the myriad egos and personalities of those massively popular names.

Also Read: 5 most impactful cricket coaches in modern era

The trend seems to be changing in recent times. While Gary Kirsten was lifted on top of the shoulders of the heroes of India's 2011 World Cup winning team on that balmy night at the Wankhede Stadium, Pakistan's irresistible resurgence in the limited-overs formats is often credited to head coach Mickey Arthur's disciplinary approach.

During those times gone by (on occasions in the current era as well), there have been quite a few coaches who largely remained in the shadows and hence were not given their deserved due. In no particular order, here are five of the most underrated coaches in the history of international cricket.


#5 John Wright

With over 5000 Test runs and close to 4000 ODI runs, John Wright was one of the most reliable batsmen in New Zealand's lineup of the 1980s. After pulling the curtains down on his stellar playing career, the left-hander returned to the game in a different capacity. Having not seen much productivity in his tryst with sales, he made a comeback into cricket as coach. A stint with Kent saw him welcome Rahul Dravid into County Cricket. Acting on the inputs of the rising star, BCCI appointed Wright as the head coach of Indian team in 2000.

Extra Cover: Indian players who made their debut under John Wright - Where are they now?

Taking charge of a set-up ravaged by the vestiges of the infamous match-fixing scandal, Wright formed a fruitful alliance with captain Sourav Ganguly and helped revive India's fortunes at the turn of the millennium. No longer just home track bullies, a transformed unit shed the stigma associated with Indian cricket by registering monumental triumphs in Test matches outside the subcontinent.

Wright's calming influence as well as tendency to stay away from the limelight complemented Ganguly's aggressive approach to the game. After completing his five-year term, the Kiwi co-wrote a book titled John Wright's Indian Summers to reminisce his memorable stint. He would eventually go on to coach New Zealand for a brief two-year period.

Coaching Stints

India (2000-2005), New Zealand (2010-2012)

#4 Eddie Barlow

Eddie Barlow
Barlow laid the foundation for Bangladesh's foray into the Test arena

Many more decades later when patrons of the game look back at Bangladesh cricket, they will remember their metamorphosis into a strong limited-overs unit in the aftermath of the 2015 World Cup. Unarguably, head coach Chandika Hathurusingha deserves wholehearted applause for his role in the team's recent progress.

However, the seeds of fruition had been sown long back when Bangladesh was still searching for their identity in the international arena. The cricket crazy supporters in the country will do well to remember the inimitable contribution of Eddie Barlow. Since taking over the coaching mantle from Gordon Greenidge, the legendary South African all-rounder played a major role in helping Bangladesh achieve Test status.

Barlow's emphasis on reforming the then mangled domestic system laid the foundation for the thriving present-day cricket circuit catering to numerous promising players. Even though an unfortunate stroke cut short his coaching stint in 2000, his part in instilling professionalism into Bangladesh cricket endeared him to respected players such as Habibul Bashar and Aminul Islam.

Coaching Stints

Bangladesh (1999-2000)

#3 Tom Moody

Tom Moody
Moody's sharp tactical acumen helped oversee a productive phase for Sri Lanka

At almost two metres, Tom Moody cuts a physically imposing figure. However, hidden underneath his 'Long' frame is a sagacious mind capable of reading the game unlike any other in the modern era. The former Australian all-rounder's profound knowledge of the intricacies of cricket turned him into a natural coach after bidding adieu to his playing career in 2001.

Following stints as President/Coach of the Australian Cricketers' Association and Director of Cricket at Worcestershire, he replaced fellow countryman John Dyson as Sri Lanka's head coach in 2005. Having found an equally shrewd ally in skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Moody managed to extract the best out of a promising bunch of players. A 2-0 Test clean-sweep against the visiting South African team as well as an emphatic 5-0 ODI series victory in England were among the highlights of his journey.

Despite overseeing Sri Lanka's surge to the final of the 2007 World Cup, he relinquished his post due to personal reasons. Since their debut in the Indian Premier League in 2013, Moody has been the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad with significant success.

Coaching Stints

Sri Lanka (2005-2007)

#2 Mike Hesson

Mike Hesson
Hesson is one of the shrewdest coaches in the contemporary game

At 43, head coach Mike Hesson is not much older than some of the senior cricketers in the current New Zealand team. While the usual pathway to coaching follows an extensive playing career at either domestic or international level, the man from Dunedin is a trailblazer in every sense of the word.

Without any field experience to speak of, Hesson began his coaching journey at the age of 22 as an apprentice in the Otago set-up. After graduating to become the team's assistant coach and then head coach in the early 2000s, he gradually began to shift his gaze to the international arena. Notwithstanding brief stints with Argentina's cricket team early in his career and subsequently Kenya at the start of this decade, his maiden opportunity at the highest level of the game came when he was appointed as New Zealand's head coach in 2012.

Since then, Hesson has played his part in changing the dynamics of New Zealand cricket. Forging a strong working relationship with captain Brendon McCullum, he decided to do away with bits and pieces players in favour of talented specialists in either departments. Apart from converting the Blackcaps into a strong force in Tests at home, the duo created national history by propelling New Zealand to their maiden World Cup final in 2015. While McCullum has since walked away from the game, Hesson continues to monitor the team's progress by developing a solid rapport with skipper Kane Williamson.

Coaching Stints

Argentina (2004-2005), Kenya (2011-2012), New Zealand (2012-present)

#1 Bob Simpson

Bob Simpson
Simpson was responsible for transforming the ethos of Australian cricket

Even though the country has produced innumerable legends, Allan Border occupies a unique place in the history of Australian cricket. The primary reason behind his enduring legacy was his resolute captaincy as well as tenacious batting which were the cornerstone of the team's transformation from motley crew to indomitable unit during the late 1980s and early 1990s. While Border deservedly continues to receive plaudits, he could not have overseen the metamorphosis without the unwavering support provided by coach Bob Simpson.

Simpson was the quintessential all-rounder, both on and off the field. After complementing his resilient batting with useful leg-breaks and pristine slip-catching for a remarkable career, the Sydney-born cricketer came out of retirement during the 1977/78 season to lead a Packer-depleted side with aplomb. Several years later, it did not come across as any surprise when he became Australia's first full-time coach.

Upon finding a kindred spirit in Border, Simpson imparted a rigorous sense of discipline and commitment to the Australian team. With the selectors inducting a slew of talented youngsters into the national set-up at the expense of faltering veterans, Border and Simpson converted those raw diamonds into glittering jewels. Aside from masterminding Australia's maiden World Cup title in 1987, the captain-coach duo also laid the foundation for the team's dominance in the subsequent decades.

Coaching Stints

Australia (1986-1996)

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Edited by Ram Kumar