Nice question on the HOC role

I would like to thank a regular contributor to this blog for an interesting question that I received by email today.

'You said you had looked at a lot of coaches, Peakfan and that Grant Bradburn was your pick in a fantasy shortlist.

What if that shortlist included, obviously hypothetically, an international coach or two? For example, wouldn't someone like Justin Langer, Ravi Shastri, Mark Boucher or Mickey Arthur be a better fantasy bet'? 

And I thought I was getting into fantasy land! 

The big appeal for me in Bradburn would be that he has coached, broadly speaking, at Derbyshire level and under budgetary constraints. He has had great success with them in New Zealand and in Scotland, which is a major consideration in appointing to such a role. 

When coaching at an elite level, it is different. In fact, I asked that very question of John Wright in my book, In Their Own Words: Derbyshire Cricketers in Conversation. His reply was:

'The pressures at international level are the hardest, but the main difference is that at county level you are working with players who have a wider spectrum of ability and attitude. That creates challenges and you cannot be ruthless at county level. In international cricket you bring in someone else. At county level you need to be patient and wait for players to realise what they are capable of.

There is also much less technical emphasis in the international arena. The players are the best of the best and so you are more 'hands off' '

John Wright had a spell at Kent before taking over as first New Zealand, then India coach, so he knows his stuff. 

 Of those named, Langer coached Western Australia for several years before taking the Australian job, while Boucher did very well for the Titans in South Africa, winning several trophies. Multi-millionaire Ravi Shastri would never come to England from the role he has, while Arthur had surprisingly little coaching outside the elite level, only a couple of years at Griqualand West before moving to coach South Africa, then Australia and now Sri Lanka. 

Would such people bring an 'elite mentality' to Derbyshire if, theoretically, they opted for a 'quieter' life? Yes, probably, but my concern would be exactly as John Wright said, plus we would likely only be a short-term stepping stone to the next elite role. 

Besides, IF Bradburn came in - and I must stress his resignation from the Pakistan role may be mere coincidence - I remain convinced he would bring that little sprinkle of fairy dust. He knows cricket, cricketers, people and getting the best from them. 

Anyway, fantasies, notions and wild ideas are done. 

By next weekend I expect us to know our new Head of Cricket.

Maybe we are all wide of the mark and we end up with Alan Titchmarsh...

If so, we will know Neil Godrich was on the panel!