Hesson for India, Pakistan?
Former Black Caps coach Mike Hesson is down to the final three in the India coaching race and is being lined up by Pakistan as Mickey Arthur’s potential replacement as job vacancies open up around the cricket world.
Hesson announced on Twitter yesterday he had parted ways with his Indian Premier League side Kings XI Punjab after one season at the helm.
Coincidentally or not, Pakistan’s Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Wednesday it wouldn’t be renewing Arthur’s contract, meaning the South African walks away next week after three years in charge. It is understood the PCB has already sounded out Hesson about applying.
Hesson declined to comment on the reasons for his departure from Kings XI, or the many job prospects he now appears to have with his widely respected coaching credentials.
South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also parted ways with their coaches post-world Cup, while England’s Trevor Bayliss is stepping down after the Ashes series to take the reins at Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) called for applicants for its head coaching role after the World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand, and Hesson was reported to have made the final three for next week’s interviews.
Incumbent Ravi Shastri wants to continue and is favoured to retain his spot, while Hesson and Australian Tom Moody were among two high profile overseas applicants.
India’s coach will be chosen by a three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of Indian great Kapil Dev, former coach Anshuman Gaekwad and former India women’s captain Shantha Rangaswamy.
Hesson coached the Black Caps for six years, highlighted by their memorable run to the 2015 World Cup final in Melbourne, a semifinal finish at the 2016 World Twenty20 in India and a home test series win over England in April 2018 which boosted them to third on the world rankings.
He stepped down in June last year with a year to run on his contract, citing family reasons, as Gary Stead took the coaching reins. Hesson’s Kings XI Punjab finished sixth this year with six wins and eight losses, missing out on the top-four playoffs on net run rate.
The PCB confirmed a cleanout of their coaching staff with Arthur, batting coach Grant Flower and bowling coach Azhar Mahmood not having their contracts renewed.
According to a PCB statement on Wednesday, the board will be ‘‘immediately undertaking a robust recruitment process’’ ahead of Pakistan’s next international commitment, a test series against Sri Lanka in October.
Espncricinfo reported Arthur was keen to continue and asked for a two-year contract extension during a five-hour PCB cricket committee meeting on Monday, in which Arthur was grilled about his performance with the team over the last three years.
With Arthur at the helm alongside captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan won 10 of their 28 tests (ranked seventh in the world), and 32 of their 68 one-day internationals (ranked sixth). They beat the Black Caps at the Cricket World Cup but were pipped to a semifinal berth on net run rate.
It was in Twenty20 cricket that Arthur and Pakistan really fired, winning 30 of their 37 matches to top the world rankings, just over a year out from the men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.