Fletcher: overdefensive or incompetent?

Fletcher: overdefensive or incompetent?
New Delhi: Don't be a school teacher, certainly not a headmaster. There are Tendulkars and Dravids in there. So you need not coach in the literal sense, just keep an eye, be ready to help. Never harangue, take a quieter route if things go wrong. Put an arm around their shoulder and guide them.
Words of wisdom, lessons learnt the 'Chappell' way, or a leaf out of the 'Kirsten' book. Whatever you may want to call it, but that's how things work for you as coach of the Indian cricket team.

On the surface, Duncan Fletcher is quite similar to Gary Kirsten and John Wright. But bring the collars of his coat down and the poker face is revealed. And you don't need to meet him to get that impression. Compare Fletcher's pictures in the dailies to those of Kirsten during his tenure and the conclusion can be drawn.
While Kirsten was often clicked having a hearty laugh and in the thick of things during net sessions, Fletcher comes across as those 'armchair' football coaches who like their assistants to pass on the message. The observation takes one to conclude that the Zimbabwean has perhaps taken the 'backroom approach' a bit too seriously.
Historically, India's best coaches to date – Wright and Kirsten – have been those who allowed players take centrestage. But instead of learning the skill by heart, Fletcher seems to have rote-memorized it, which has shown its effects in the so-far winless England tour.
However, Fletcher has done well by avoiding ego-clashes with 'big names' in the Indian dugout. Names like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Zaheer Khan need some space to perform the way they have over the years. Chappell chose to shout and was shown the door. Fletcher hasn't done that at least. Probably that's the reason fingers haven't yet been pointed at him for India's fiasco.
The West Indies series was a good beginning for Fletcher, but it ended with raised eyebrows. India refused to chase 86 runs off 15 overs on the last day of third Test, sowing seeds of a 'defensive' tag for India's new coach. That was when some quarters started doubting Fletcher's presence in the Indian dressing room. However, considering it was the first assignment for the incumbent, it was forgotten as 'bad judgement' instead of 'defensive tactics'.
The England series, though, has inflicted some serious wounds and Fletcher's shirt-front is not expected to go without a spot. The BCCI has decided to review the 0-4 rout by England, and Fletcher may have some serious answering to do.
To Fletcher's defence, injuries to key players didn't allow India a head-start to the tour and BCCI's chockablock schedule never gave the team time to prepare.
Does that mean Fletcher is 'competent' but 'overdefensive'? Probably those are too big words to use at what is still an embryonic stage of Fletcher's term with Team India. But one thing is certain: his first impression doesn't promise much.