DUNCAN Fletcher will take over as India’s new cricket coach from South African Gary Kirsten, the Indian board (BCCI) said today, and his first assignment could be to lead the team on their tour of England in July.
The 62-year-old former England coach has signed on for two years and takes over from Kirsten after the South African turned down an extension to his three-year contract following India’s World Cup victory earlier this month.
Despite overtures from players and the board Kirsten, who also took India to the top of the Test world rankings, would not go back on his decision to return home to his family.
Former Zimbabwe captain Fletcher, who coached England to Ashes success in 2005, might need some time before joining up with the team, BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan said.
“He may not join the team in the West Indies (in June) as he has some prior commitments,” Srinivasan told reporters after a working committee meeting today.
India will play a Twenty20 international, five one-day internationals and three Tests in their tour of West Indies.
Fletcher has worked as batting consultant with the national teams of South Africa and New Zealand since quitting as England coach after the 2007 World Cup.
Should he be unable to join the team in the West Indies, Fletcher could take charge of India for the first time the following month when they tour England for four Tests, a Twenty20 and five one-dayers.
India, which also said it had increased bonus payments for each member of the World-Cup winning team to Rs20m ($450,247/£271,773.54) from the earlier announced Rs10m ($225,123/£135,905.87), would retain Eric Simons as bowling coach, the BCCI said in a statement.
