Whatmore ‘brought in to take tough decisions’

“We have brought in Whatmore to take all the tough decisions. Nobody can question him, he has got so much experience,” Kerala Cricket Association secretary Jayesh George said after the Australian was appointed as Kerala’s new Ranji coach.

Dav Whatmore with Kerala Cricket Association president at Nehru Stadium.

It has been hunting for a strong man who could take tough, bitter decisions. And now, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) may have found its answer in Australian Dav Whatmore, who has been appointed as Kerala’s new Ranji coach.

“We have brought in Whatmore to take all the tough decisions. Nobody can question him, he has got so much experience,” Jayesh George, the Kerala Cricket Association Secretary, told Sportstar on Saturday. “Last season, Sanju Samson’s form was sliding and his scores were poor in many matches. At the same time, Salman Nizar was in good form. But had we removed Sanju, there would have been a big furore in the media. That won’t happen with Whatmore in charge.”

Jayesh also revealed that P. Balachandran, who was sacked as the Ranji coach midway through last season, found it difficult to take tough decisions. “He is a bit soft, that was turning out to be a problem,” Jayesh said.

Meanwhile, former KCA president T. C. Mathew said Whatmore can even overrule selectors’ decisions.