New life for coaches after World Cup

Barbados, Bridgetown, Apr 17 (UNI) By the time the winning captain holds aloft the most coveted trophy in cricket on April 28, heads of many coaches are going to roll and this tournament will be best known for the bloodiest for that breed.

Pakistan coach Woolmer died under mysterious circumstances, Greg Chappell resigned after India's disastrous World Cup campaign, England's Duncan Fletcher is in the firing line and host West Indies coach Bennett King looks certain to lose his job.

Most coaches are going to swap jobs or will have to find a less demanding career after the showpiece event.

But this tournament will be long remembered for the death of Bob Woolmer and for spoiling Greg Chappell's reputation and bio-data.

Both were high profile coaches of two of the biggest teams of the tournament, but could not see their teams progressing into the Super Eights. While Bangladesh spoilt the party for the Indians, rank outsiders Ireland plotted Pakistan's ouster.

The most successful coach, John Buchanan of Australia is also hanging up his boots in favour of Tim Nielsen. The teacher-turned -coach will most likely go back to his old job after putting Australia in unbelievable position to win the Cup for a record third time in succession.

Bangladesh coach Dave Whatmore has been doing wonderful things with South Asian teams. He coached Sri Lanka to the World Cup title and now pushed Bangladesh to its pinnacle, propelling them into the Super Eight stage of the World Cup for the first time.

His desire to coach the India team has in fact angered his employers, the Bangladesh Cricket Board which issued a statement, saying that Whatmore had a contract with them.

England coach Duncan Fletcher was still basking on the 2005 Ashes success for which he was awarded an OBE by the Queen. But it will be a monumental task for him to keep the job going by England's flop show till now. Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody has expressed interest in coaching the English side but the Sri Lankan Board did not take that very kindly.

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