Craig McDermott in line for Team India job

This is one name that has gone unmentioned all this while. But as the contest for Team India’s coaching job toughens, another former cricketer has silently thrown his hat in the ring — Craig McDermott.

Published : Jun 03, 2017 14:31 IST , Chennai

“I completed all the procedure on time, and the application was sent much earlier,” McDermott said.
“I completed all the procedure on time, and the application was sent much earlier,” McDermott said.
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“I completed all the procedure on time, and the application was sent much earlier,” McDermott said.

This is one name that has gone unmentioned all this while. But as the contest for Team India’s coaching job toughens, another former cricketer has silently thrown his hat in the ring — Craig McDermott.

Even as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has remained tight-lipped on who the applicants are for the job, the former Australia quick, who has also served as his nation's bowling coach for a while, confirmed to Sportstar his interest in the job. “Yes, I have thrown my hat in the ring for India’s head coaching job,” McDermott said from Brisbane on Saturday.

While the other names were discussed about, the Australian surprisingly went under the radar. “I completed all the procedure on time, and the application was sent much earlier,” McDermott said. Having served Australia as the bowling coach for a fairly long time, McDermott has played a key role in helping the team win the World Cup in 2015 and perform well in the Ashes. “I have had aspirations for a while to be a head coach. I was away from cricket coaching for a year, and now, I want to come back to it. I have also enjoyed my time in India, and it would be nice to serve Indian cricket,” he said.

Aware of the fact that he will have to compete with some of the big names for the job, the Aussie is up for the challenge. “I have handled many situations before. And I believe, as a head coach, your job is no longer restricted to just cricket,” he said.

Indian cricket has been a divided house lately over allegations of a sour relationship between coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli. McDermott, however, believes he would be able to cope, if given the job. “Being a head coach is about managing the people and maintaining a good relation with the players and the captain,” he said.

The former Australian cricketer runs a cricket academy in India that has Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its ambassador. So, has McDermott spoken to Dhoni before applying for the job? “I haven’t,” he said, adding that he sent his application after consulting his wife.

Without divulging more details, sources in the BCCI did confirm the Aussie's application. “It is for the Cricket Committee to decide on the names and a formal announcement on the applicants will be made later,” a source close to the development said.

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