5 great cricketers who struggled in the role of coach

Even if you excel in doing something, it does not necessarily mean that you can effectively help others in doing the same. On the other hand, people who perform averagely at a certain task may be able to teach others to do it far more efficiently.

In cricket, there are a number of examples of how players with none-too-great track records have gone on to lead teams extraordinary heights as a coach. But you will also find quite a few instances of legendary cricketers failing to deliver the goods in a coaching role.

Some of these cricketers used to be role models in their playing days but were unable to establish the same status as a coach. Here are 5 cricketing icons who had forgettable stints as coach:

Vivian Richards

One of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game, Vivian Richards, may have set the cricketing world on fire with his outstanding batting prowess. But when it came to coaching, his performance can be described as disastrous at best.

West Indian fast bowling legend Malcolm Marshall was the head coach of his national team during the 1999 World Cup, but he had to pull out during their campaign due to ill health. Richards was named as his replacement and had virtually no time to settle down as the West Indies crashed out in the group stage.

Next, he travelled to New Zealand with the Test side and little did Richards know that disaster awaited him there too. The men from the Caribbean were thrashed black and blue and conceded the series to the Kiwis 2-0.

Post that, Vivian Richards did not receive any further opportunities to improve on his debacle as a coach, although he has played mentoring roles in domestic T20 leagues.

Bishan Singh Bedi

Bedi was the Indian team’s first full-time coach

Former Indian left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi is remembered as one of the finest spin bowlers to have played the game. Bedi dominated the batsmen with his flight and guile and helped the Indian team achieve a lot of success in both home and overseas Tests.

Coaching, however, did not turn out to be his cup of tea and the team did miserably in the only stint he had. Bishan Singh Bedi was made the first ever full-time coach of the Indian cricket team in the year 1990.

India toured New Zealand and suffered a 1-0 defeat in the 3-match Test series against them. Bedi, apparently, was so angered by the dismal performance of the team that he threatened to dump the players in the Pacific Ocean during their journey back home.

Bishan Singh Bedi is among the prominent examples of how great players may not always be successful in a coaching role.

Martin Crowe

Crowe had an unsuccessful coaching stint in the IPL

Iconic former New Zealand batsman and skipper Martin Crowe was among the biggest cricketing superstars to have emerged from the nation. Crowe was not only a brilliant batsman, but he also ranks among the best leaders in the game.

However, the Kiwi great was unable to emulate his success as a cricketer in the role of a coach. In the inaugural edition of the IPL, Crowe was appointed head coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise. Despite having a pretty strong team, RCB had a poor season and finished 7th in the league table among 8 participating teams.

Team owner Vijay Mallya was unhappy with the turn of events and sacked most of the coaching staff other than Martin Crowe. Later that year, though, Crowe himself took the decision to relinquish his position as RCB head coach, leading to Ray Jennings' appointment.

It was one of the rare occasions when the legendary Kiwi cricketer was unsuccessful in a task that he had taken up.

Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev interacts with Sachin Tendulkar during a training session

India's greatest ever all-rounder, Kapil Dev, had one of the most celebrated careers in the nation's cricketing career. Not only was he the highest wicket-taker in Tests at one point, Kapil also captained the Indian team to their first ever World Cup triumph.

In the year 1999, the legendary cricketer took over as coach of the Indian team taking over from Anshuman Gaekwad. Although India won their first Test and ODI series of Kapil's coaching term against New Zealand, they struggled throughout the rest of his stint.

The Indian team suffered a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia in Tests and produced a dismal performance in the subsequent ODI tri-series, which also involved Pakistan. They also lost a Test series at home against South Africa but managed to win 3-2 in the ODIs.

It was about at this time when former team-mate Manoj Prabhakar accused Kapil Dev of match-fixing and although he was cleared of the charges, the icon resigned from his role as Indian coach.

Greg Chappell

Greg Chappell in conversation with Virender Sehwag

Former Australian skipper Greg Chappell is among the greatest batsmen to have played for his country. Along with that, he is also known to be a shrewd captain and led his team to victory in as many as 21 Tests, including 3 Ashes series.

Chappell was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team in the year 2005 and stayed on till the 2007 World Cup, where India crashed out in the group stage. From the very outset, the Aussie developed a bitter relationship with several players in the team, especially then skipper Sourav Ganguly.

He is considered as a driving force behind Ganguly's prolonged ouster from the Indian scheme of things. Although India's performance was a mixed bag during Greg Chappell's stint, it included a number of lows, the worst being their premature exit from the 2007 ICC World Cup.

This served as a breaking point for the Indian team management's persistence with Chappell and he was sacked as coach. The Aussie great has not been involved in any other coaching role post his Team India stint.