Cricket: Wright honour to be India's first foreign coach

New Indian cricket coach John Wright said yesterday that he could not resist the challenge of a unique opportunity to be the first foreign coach of India.

Wright will fly to Bombay in a few weeks and may even be called on to take charge of the Indian side for the coming series against Zimbabwe in India.

The former New Zealand test batsman headed off Australians Greg Chappell and Geoff Marsh for the job.

"I was approached by their board in early September and flew to Madras last month for an interview. It's taken a while, but it culminated in that trip," Wright said from Kent.

"Greg and I had an interview with a panel on the same day. I flew back to England and have really been waiting for their decision, which has just come through.

"I don't know what convinced them that I would be best suited for the job, but I put across what I thought about coaching. It was a rigorous interview that went for two hours. I have not had a lot of these things and I didn't know how I had gone."

Wright said details regarding a manager, when he starts and selection issues were yet to be confirmed.

He said the appointment was an honour and unique in many ways.

"It will be a big challenge, particularly from the point of being the first foreign coach. It will be a big learning curve for me and I'm looking forward to it," he said.

"I always enjoyed my tours of India. I captained New Zealand there in a series about 10 years ago and I have always enjoyed the people.

"I'll look at how I can help India up the international ladder. I have had a wonderful grounding here at Kent for the last four years."

Wright said he would adopt an approach of setting work ethics, discipline, basic values and instilling loyalty, hard work and honesty.

He will hit the ground running when he arrives in Bombay.

One of his first tasks will be to gain the respect of the players, the media, former players and a passionate cricketing public.

"I am aware of the reaction here, with England appointing a foreign coach to take over from Kevin Keegan as the England soccer manager. I imagine some people will be against the appointment as a matter of principle. But I hope to set an environment for my side which will bring the best out in them."

The 46-year-old said it was not the time to comment on whether he would like to coach New Zealand one day. He was not looking forward much further than the next few months.

The Indian coaching appointment was initially for a year and then "we'll see how we go after that."

Wright said Gloucester's John Bracewell would make an outstanding New Zealand coach.

"Braces has done a magnificent job with Gloucester. I can't speak too highly of his achievements. He has been the outstanding coach in England this year. What he has achieved is not to be under-estimated and he's done brilliantly to earn three one-day titles."

Wright takes over as India struggle to perform away from home. He has some inside knowledge of the players through vice-captain Rahul Dravid, who has been Kent's overseas professional for the past three years.

Wright was not wanted for the New Zealand coaching job last year. He was approached to put his name forward for the England job, which eventually went to Duncan Fletcher.

- NZPA