Split coaches in different formats are the way forward in cricket? Here's what experts say

Much like players opting for certain formats or are forced to do so in the wake of speciality in cricket, certain former players and experts believe that coaches too need to specialise in different formats. In a podcast former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop revealed that he thinks specialisation in coaching is almost knocking on the door. 

“The fact that we want all the best players playing all the formats and that poses problems for people like Moods (Tom Moody), who have the task fo making players succeed in all the formats,” Freddie Wilde, author of the famous book Cricket 2.0 told Bishop on The Pitch Side Experts Podcast. 

Responding to that, Bishop also echoed his thoughts. “You read my mind, I was just going to end it with it. Moods, my heart goes out to you and I wonder, It’s no surprise there seems to be a specialisation in even in the coaching ranks apart from the few very best who are able to coach across formats,” said the man with 279 international wickets.  

“Given the demands and multiplicity of the skills that one had to bring to the table, and even to the commentators,” Bishop added, indicating that doing everything in all three formats for all people involved with the game is getting relatively difficult. 

Earlier, Darren Lehmann, former Australia coach had propagated the multiple coach theory or split coaching. “I think split coaches is the way to go in India as well as here[England]. You just can’t be away for 200 days a year. It’s too much for the family and it’s too much pressure on a single coach,” Lehmann had said on a podcast with Michael Vaughan. 

“I think to get longevity out of your coaches you have to have split roles,” he had added.