Gary Kirsten rules out full-time coaching role

ABU DHABI - Kirsten, who guided India to a second World Cup in 2011, was approached by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in October for a second stint with the Indian team.

Former South African cricketer and former Indian coach Gary Kirsten has ruled out a return to a full-time coaching role with an international team and said that he was enjoying working in his own academy apart from short-term consultancy roles.
Kirsten, who guided India to a second World Cup in 2011, was approached by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in October for a second stint with the Indian team.
The former South African opener had revealed to Indian media that there were a couple of phone calls from the BCCI. Kirsten, though honoured by the approach, couldn't accept the offer.
India have been without a coach after Duncan Fletcher's contract came to an end following the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Team director Ravi Shastri has been performing that role in the absence of a full-time coach.
"I'm enjoying working in my own academy space for the mean time. I'm doing some clinics in Dubai so looking forward to that," Kirsten told the Khaleej Times in an exclusive chat on Friday.
Kirsten, who will turn 48 on Monday, was in the UAE Capital as one of the panellists for the Abu Dhabi Chapter 27th Annual International Seminar organised by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
The other panellists were former Indian cricketers Mohinder Amarnath and Sunil Gavaskar.
Kirsten though has been sounded out by director of England cricket Andrew Strauss for an advisory role with the England Lions on a short-term basis and the South African will be a consultant before England Lions' limited-overs series against Pakistan 'A' in the UAE in January next year.
"I will be with the England Lions in January next year so, looking forward to that," he added.
Kirsten, who coached India from 2008 to 2011, guided them to No.1 in the world in Tests. The team though is going through a transitional phase under a new captain in Virat Kohli.
And Kirsten said that things are looking bright for the team as they go through that period.
"They have done well. Every team goes through a cycle. So, they have brought in some young players and they are starting to really shine now. But I reckon, you only get experience after 50 odd Test matches. So, the players are kind of going through that experience at the moment and they are doing it really nicely," he said.
India are currently engaged in a home Test series against the South Africans, the No.1 Test side in the world. South Africa trail the four-match series 1-0 after defeat in Mohali and the Bangalore Test being washed out. But Kirsten reckoned his compatriots could bounce back in the next two Tests in Nagpur and New Delhi.
"It is an interesting series. India have played well but South Africa are a quality outfit so I won't be surprised if they come back in the series. But it is going to set up for an interesting last two Test matches," said Kirsten.
Kirsten also heaped praise on vice-captain AB de Villiers, who became the seventh South African to play 100 Tests. The landmark was achieved in Bangalore, his second home as he plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
"He is a world class player and I think it is a massive milestone for us South Africans to now have a seventh player to have played hundred Tests for his country. He is a stand out and an exceptional player and he continues to kind of surprise people at how good he actually is," said Kirsten, who himself played 101 Tests.
james@khaleejtimes.com