‘If anyone knocks at my door and offers me, I would be more than happy to sit down and listen’
Chennai: Australia A assistant coach Stuart Law may be busy strategising India A's downfall during the ongoing second unofficial Test, but the former cricketer is keen to coach India's senior team and work with some of the greatest players in the world.
After the first four-day Test ended in a draw, Australia A have grabbed the advantage after taking a sizable first innings lead on day 2 of the second game here.
Law, who is assisting Troy Cooley in the series, though chose to spoke on coaching and more after an absorbing day's play at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
"I would love to work with some of the greatest cricketers in the world. I had spent quite a bit of time in the sub-continent. Your first experience will always be memorable. If anyone knocks at my door and offers me, I would be more than happy to sit down and listen," Law, who had worked as coach of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the past, said.
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Law, 46, who was appointed as Sri Lanka's assistant coach in October 2009, ended up taking charge as the head coach after Trevor Bayliss’ exit post the 2011 World Cup. He admits that the assignment was a challenging one.
"Obviously the language barrier is there. Lot of the players in Sri Lanka, they speak pretty good English. Once you build trust and understand each other, all things worked. It is very difficult for an overseas coach to come in sub-continental areas. The biggest trouble will be the way the communication is transpired between captain, players and the coach," he said.
Sharing his thoughts on the upcoming India-Sri Lanka series, Law said, "It’s always a good series. Sri Lanka are looking forward to playing against India because India are seen as their big brother. They know that they are going to be in for a contest."
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"India had not played well against Bangladesh in the recent one-day series. They got a point to prove as well. They got a new leadership in Virat Kohli. He led India beautifully in Australia. If Virat continues to lead with the aggression he does, India will make a difficult opponent for Sri Lanka," he added.
Law said, "Sri Lanka is going through a bit of rebuilding as well. It is a good thing that the youngsters are coming in to take the place of Mahela Jayawardane and Sangakkara (Kumar Sangakkara). It is quite an opportunity for them. It is going to be a tough series. It is tough to beat Sri Lanka in their backyard. But I think India have got the fair chance."
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"From what I have seen from the standard and skill level of players, if they take that mindset in Test cricket, they can do better. I do not see why India cannot play like that as it happens in Australia where we are aggressive in all formats of the game. India has class batsmen with skills, good bowlers and world's best spinners and what I have seen in the first game, India is an improve side in fielding,” Law pointed out.
"They have all the makings for an aggressive nation in cricket in all formats. Likewise, Sri Lanka wants to be an aggressive nation. They first won the World Cup in 1996 and it came through with sheer aggression. I cannot see any reason that the series coming up cannot be a blockbuster," he added.
Taking about the new-found aggression of sub-continent players, Law said, "It is more attractive to play cricket. The crowd in the sub-continent comes in great numbers to watch one-dayers and T20 matches more than the Test matches because it is exciting cricket."
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Law also lavished praise on Sangakkara with the veteran batsman set to retire after the second Test against India.
"He is not only one of the greatest players who have played the game. Playing for a small nation like Sri Lanka, it is his passion to playing cricket to represent the people he was very proud to do so. He is one of the guys who never really shied away from working hard. He was always the first to practice and the last to leave,” he said.
"Away from cricket he is one of the best human beings and he is a great man and has lot of admirers worldwide. He wanted to make sure that he left the legacy. I think he can retire with great pride. He has certainly set records which are inevitable in world cricket," Law concluded.
