Some of the world’s best cricket coaches who made a name for themselves in the history of cricket. The importance of the best coach in cricket cannot be overstated. Since the introduction of the One-Day International World Cup in 1975, the level of competition in cricket has risen exponentially. Players and fans alike fantasized about hoisting the game’s most illustrious trophy. As a result, they tried everything they could to raise the level of competition. The West Indies dominated the world in the 1970s. The Indian cricket team, along with the Australians, dominated the game in the 1980s.
Being skilled is essential for success, but it is also necessary to focus on those skills and perform well. To do so, a guide, a teacher, is needed to hold the person’s hand and guide them down the right path to their destination. This is true in every circumstance. Even when it comes to sports like cricket. In the 1990s, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia shocked the world by winning the World Cup. Before the 2000s, the majority of champions were underdogs. The decade of the 2000s belonged to Australia because they were the decade’s most complete team. After a star-studded team failed to advance from the group stage of the 2007 World Cup, the Indians were forced to revamp and recreate the team.
In the 2010s, the New Zealand team emerged as the underdog. They were frequently underestimated, but they managed to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2011. Later, in 2015 and 2019, they finished second. Even though the players have given their all, some people have managed to bring the team together. They are the coaches, so let’s take a look at the Best Cricket Coaches in the world.
List Of Top 10 Best Coaches In World Cricket History | Best Cricket Coaches Of All Time
- John Buchanan
- Gary Kirsten
- Trevor Bayliss
- John Wright
- Gary Stead
- Dav Whatmore
- Michael Hesson
- Ravi Shastri
- Mickey Arthur
- Duncan Fletcher
1. John Buchanan Is One Of The Best Australian Cricket Coaches.
Consider coaching the world’s best players. Consider working with a legendary captain like Ricky Ponting, who wants you to put together the best possible playing eleven. It appears to be a difficult task for anyone. However, John Buchanan was able to lead the Australian team to World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007. John is widely regarded as the greatest coach in the game’s history. In October 1999, he was named head coach of the Australian cricket team. In 2006, Australia won the Champions Trophy under his leadership. Australia became the decade’s most dominant team, with Ponting reaching new heights.
Later, in 2007, John resigned as the team’s coach. In 2008, as the IPL was becoming the next big thing, he was hired as the coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders. During the 2010-2011 Ashes series, he was appointed as the English team’s consultant. Later, in 2013, he was appointed as New Zealand’s Director of Cricket.
2. Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten is a former South African cricketer and, the best cricket coach in the world. After the Chappell fiasco, the Indian team needed someone to command the team that would host the next World Cup. In 2007, the BCCI offered Gary Kirsten the position of head coach of the Indian cricket team. Later, in March 2008, he accepted the position. Later, within three years, he rose to become Team India’s best coach.
With his 188 not-out, Gary Kirsten holds the record for the most runs scored in a single innings in a One Day International by any South African cricketer. During his tenure, India defeated Australia at home by a score of 2-0. Later, in Sri Lanka, India won its first bilateral series. In addition, after a 40-year hiatus, India won the Test and ODI series against New Zealand. Kirsten was a successful South African batsman. He appeared in 101 Tests and 185 One-Day Internationals, averaging 45.37 in Tests and 40.95 in ODIs.
The highlight of his cricket career, however, will be India’s successful campaign in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. After a 28-year wait, India finally won the World Cup. Gary Kirsten possessed exceptional man-management abilities as he assembled a team of legends and rising stars. Following his time with team India, he went on to coach South Africa’s national team until 2013.
3. Trevor Bayliss
The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup was one of English cricket’s nightmares. The hosts (England) were eliminated during the group stage by Bangladesh. Following that, Trevor Bayliss took over as head coach. Trevor Bayliss was England’s coach from 2015 to 2019, and he stepped down after delivering the sport’s most prestigious championship (ICC Cricket World Cup) to the hosts. His primary goal was to give the players complete trust in their abilities. As a result, the English side went on to break numerous records. This brought out the best in players like Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, and Jonny Bairstow. Later on, England managed to score 481 runs in 50 overs. The English side rose to become one of the best in the world.
He had less success in test cricket, but he still had some excellent away performances. England won in South Africa in 2015/16 and Sri Lanka in 2018. He also helped the team win the Ashes series at home in 2015, as well as defeating India 4-1 in 2018. England reached the final of the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup under Bayliss’ leadership. They were defeated, however, as the West Indies scored 24 points from four balls in the final over. However, this changed the way England played their game. They developed into a fearless group of players who were unfazed by any attack.
4. John Wright
Former New Zealand cricketer and one of the best cricket coaches in the world John Wright was nicknamed “Shake” during his playing career due to his incredible success as New Zealand’s opening batsman. He began his international coaching career with the Kent County Cricket Club and was named head coach of the Indian national cricket team in 2000, a position he held until 2005. The Indian cricket team had a successful period in the early 2000s. The current Indian squad is widely regarded as one of the best. However, the winning streaks began when John Wright was appointed as coach of the Indian national cricket team. The team, led by Sourav Ganguly, performed admirably.
During that time, the Indian cricket team had a perfect balance of team management and leadership. With many young players like Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, and Harbhajan Singh & Parthiv Patel making it to the national team, Wright was able to instill a perfect blend of youth and experience in Ganguly’s squad. The Indian team defeated the mighty Aussies in India, where India won after overcoming a follow-on with VVS Laxman scoring 281 not out. At Kolkata, Steve Waugh’s Test team was finally defeated. That match is widely regarded as a watershed moment in Indian cricket. In 2002, India won the Natwest Trophy at Lord’s. With crucial knocks from Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif, India defeated England on their home turf. Under Wright’s leadership, Team India advanced to the final of the 2003 ICC World Cup. Despite failing to win the tournament, they managed to impress everyone.
5. Gary Stead Is One Of The Best Cricket Coaches In New Zealand.
Gary Stead is the current head coach of the New Zealand cricket team and a former cricketer. The current New Zealand team appears to be unbeatable. In 2019, they advanced to the World Cup finals. They were unbeatable at home after that. With Kane Williamson at the helm, Gary Stead has been outstanding as well. He has made certain that the Kiwis have the right combination and backup when needed. Gary Stead has only played in 5 Tests for New Zealand. He managed to score 278 runs, he averaged 34.8. But he instantly moved on to coaching national teams. Gary Stead should be credited for the New Zealand squad’s rise as they seek their first major ICC Trophy.
New Zealand has advanced to the World Test Championship finals for the first time. And New Zealand made history by winning the WTC against team INDA. With so many talented players competing for limited squad spots, Stead has made certain that a proper playing XI is set up in every game. Aside from that, New Zealand recently defeated England at home. Even though Williamson was out, they found a replacement in the form of Will Young.
6. Dav Whatmore
Dav Whatmore, a former Australian cricketer, and professional cricket coach had a very little span of international cricket career as an Australian cricketer, appearing in 7 Tests and 1 ODI. He began his international coaching career with the Sri Lanka national cricket team. The best thing about World Cups is that they give underdogs a chance to shine on the big stage. Sri Lanka’s World Cup victory in 1996 is one of the fairy tale stories of World Cup-winning campaigns. They defeated the titans and advanced to the World Cup finals. But they had a massive task ahead of them in defeating the mighty Aussies.
But Arjuna Ranatunga’s team was unfazed by difficulties, and they were able to meet a target of 242 in Lahore. Dav Whatmore was a man behind the scenes who played a significant role as everyone celebrated the victory. Later in his career, he became the coach of the Bangladesh Cricket Team, which stunned the Australians in 2005. In an ODI, the minnows defeated the giants. Later, during the 2007 ICC World Cup, Bangladesh defeated India in a group stage match. Dav’s coaching abilities have assisted many teams in regaining their form. Aside from that, the stories from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh demonstrate his exceptional man-management abilities. He is currently the head coach of Nepal.
7. Michael Hesson
Mike Hesson is widely regarded as one of the best modern-day cricket coaches. Mike Hesson is a former New Zealand cricket team head coach. He is currently the Director of Cricket Operations for the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, he is one of the primary reasons that New Zealand is one of the best teams in the world. He and Brendon McCullum built a strong Kiwi squad that advanced to the World Cup finals in 2015. He is one of New Zealand’s most successful cricket coaches. The Kiwis won a series in England and South Africa while he was coaching. Later, the Kiwis dominated the West Indies and India in their home series. He would sign players who had dominated domestic tournaments and then replicate their success on the international stage. This is one of the primary reasons why New Zealand developed into a strong team.
Hesson is New Zealand’s longest-serving cricket coach. He had a calm approach to the game, which helped New Zealand continue to put on fantastic performances after the 2015 World Cup. Hesson was appointed as the ICC Committee’s coach representative in 2018. He has also coached Argentina, Kenya, and Otago in New Zealand domestic cricket.
8. Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri will be remembered as the most popular coach in Indian cricket history. Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri is a former Indian cricketer, commentator, and head coach of the India national team. He was a member of the Indian national cricket team from 1981 to 1992, appearing in both Tests and ODIs. Ravi Shastri took responsibility whenever the team India faced a dilemma. He was a useful all-rounder in his playing days and has been an excellent national team coach. Ravi has filled Anil Kumble’s shoes to perfection since he left the position.
He took over as head coach in 2017 after being nominated by the Cricket Advisory Committee. Ravi Shastri was one of the highest-paid coaches, receiving the most money from the BCCI. His annual salary from the BCCI ranged from Rs. 9.5 crores and Rs. 10 crores. As a commentator and the director of the Indian team, he was well compensated. He was India’s coach during the 2019 World Cup, where they advanced to the semi-finals. Shastri was given a 45-day extension following the team’s elimination from the World Cup. His contract has been extended through the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2021.
Ravi Shastri was very crucial in the Inda team’s success during the India tour of Australia. India defeated Australia in their backyard under his leadership. Shastri’s man-management skills are exceptional, and the Indian team’s success is directly attributed to his efforts. However, he is relegated to this position due to his lack of a World Cup Final appearance. Following the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup, Rahul Dravid was named head coach of India’s national team.
9. Mickey Arthur
Since 2015, Mickey Arthur has been one of the best cricket coaches. Mickey Arthur is a South African-Australian cricket coach as well as a former South African domestic cricketer who played from 1986 to 2001. He was the head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team from 2016 to 2019, and he is currently the head coach of the Sri Lanka national cricket team as of December 2020. In 2017, he led the Pakistan Cricket Team to an ICC Champions Trophy victory. This was a tremendous accomplishment for a team that was regarded as the underdog. The credit, of course, goes to Arthur and his coaching abilities.
Pakistan defeated India in the Champions Trophy finals by a massive margin of 180 runs. Pakistan won a series against Sri Lanka and a triangular series against Zimbabwe, Australia, and Pakistan following the emphatic victory. His team also managed to reach the top of the ICC Test Rankings. Mickey Arthur also had a successful stint with the South African team. The Proteas became the best team in the world under his guidance. Later on, South Africa won the Test series in England and Australia. Mickey Arthur also coached Pakistan to their first-ever T20I title.
10. Duncan Fletcher Was One Of The Best Cricket Coaches In The World.
Duncan Fletcher is a Zimbabwean cricket coach and former player who has coached the England and Indian national teams. Most of us remember Duncan Fletcher as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. From 1999 to 2007, he was England’s coach, and he is credited with leading the team’s resurgence in Test cricket in the early 2000s. The Indian team won the Champions Trophy under his coaching period. He was able to coach a team that was in transition, as the senior players were retiring and leaving the squad. Even though India was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, his contract was not renewed. This was his last game for the Indian team as a coach.
The highlight of his coaching career, however, was his time with the England cricket team. Under his leadership, England’s Test team won the Ashes for the first time in 18 years. It is also widely considered to be one of the greatest Test series of all time. The Englishmen defeated Australia’s strongest team ever. The margin of victory was 2-1, and as a result, Fletcher was awarded the OBE. Aside from that, England has won 8 consecutive Test matches. They won 3-0 over New Zealand and 4-0 over the West Indies. Duncan Fletcher, on the other hand, had his share of bad luck, as England was knocked out of the World Cup in 2007. However, he is the one who has helped England’s Test team improve.
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Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading about the best cricket coaches in the world. Many more have devoted themselves to the teams they have coached. All of these coaches deserve a lot of respect for being the pillar of success for their players and teams, as well as for providing enough strength during the tough times. We welcome your suggestions on the best cricket coaches in the world. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
