Tigers lack competitive attitude: Siddons

Bangladesh cricket coach Jamie Siddons has not watched any match of Bangladesh before taking the role. Now he is getting familiar with the players. He presents some ideas about the young Bangladesh side and also reminds about some harsh reality. Q. You told the other day you were still learning about the team and the players. How far have you gathered knowledge about the players?

Siddons: The progress is quite good. I have more or less realized what is good for Bangladeshi players and what is not. Things, in which they are not good at, will be the focal issues to deal with; so that they can improvise as cricketers and Bangladesh can become a better cricket team.

Q. You might have a preconception about the team and its players before accepting the responsibility. How much have these conceptions matched practically while you coached them? Have you noticed anything you haven’t thought before?

Siddons: No, I did not assume anything about the players. I studied a lot about this country but I didn't listen to any opinion from other people. I wanted to form my own ideas while working with the team. It is better now to learn realistically what they like and what they don't. I know from my experience (with the Australian team) what it takes to be a good international cricketer. So far I have observed Bangladesh team closely and at this moment I know what is required for Bangladeshi cricketers to become better players.

Q. Have you watched any entire match of Bangladesh before becoming the coach? Siddons: No. Q. Not even the match at Cardiff ? You were with the Australian team at that time. Siddons: Yes, I watched but remember very little. I only can recall Andrew Symonds came to the field drunk.

Q. Did you know any of Bangladeshi players personally?

Siddons: I have heard about Ashraful as a very good player. But his test average is in the twenties, his one-day average is also the same. Whereas Australia's total batting order has an average of 40-50 runs. This is what showing the peak difference between the two sides. Your best player's average is only 20 and you are expecting to win matches! We need to check the reality. After that Ashraful's skills needed to polished so that he scores at least 45 on an average. It is a big challenge and I am here to accept it.

Q. Every coach has his own coaching philosophy. Will you explain yours?

Siddons: My first and foremost coaching philosophy is to know the players well. Next, a clear conception of the game which I believe I have. Another thing I want to follow which is to teach the game properly; then working on day to day improvement of the players is also a part of my vision. I don't think that there is any other way to coach this tam. Here I have to work with all the basic skills of batting, bowling and fielding. These things will not happen overnight. It will take time.

Q. The idea of cricket team's coach is relatively newer than other sports. How much a coach can contribute to an international team? Does a coach really play much important role the way we prioritise the matter?

Siddons: I think teams like Bangladesh are more in need of such coaches than teams like Australia. Australia indeed has coaches but his activity is different. In Bangladesh the players always need coaching on basic skills. We are still far behind the international standard. We sometimes win but cannot build up any regular competition with the best teams of the world. If anyone is thinking other way, he is just only consoling himself falsely. It is unfortunate that Bangladeshi players are still learning the basic skills after being placed in the international circuit. It is very tough for them. Bangladeshi people expect a lot from this team and the local media is not an exception. But Bangladesh winning many matches against big teams is not a very realistic proposition.

Q. Have you pointed out the main problems with Bangladesh team?

Siddons: The main problem is the lack of competitive attitude among the players. This attitude is supposed to be boosted up from the National League. But home cricket has failed to accomplish the players. For example they don't get any experience playing the fast balls on bouncy wicket. Whereas in New Zealand they are going to face at least four bowlers with 140 km speed per hour. Now you tell me how a player would face such a bowler without any previous experience.

Q. After learning all theses about Bangladesh team, would you say coaching this team is going to be the biggest challenge of your life?

Siddons: It is indeed a big challenge for me and that is why I accepted it. I didn't find any challenge while working with the Australian team. Watching the conditions in Bangladesh, I felt this is where a coach has a lot to do. I believe I am quite good at training young players and teach them the skills.

Q. Will you take an interest in the selection process once you become knowledgeable enough about the team?

Siddons: I can say one thing, those who are capable will be strongly favoured by my support. Right now, I can't say anything; it is not possible for me to select anyone now. I hardly know any of the 15 players of the current squad. So I better stay out of the selection for now. As soon as I get to know the players, I will certainly recommend more promising players. Besides we have to search for new talents. Bangladesh has a lot of hidden talents; if we can bring them under a process for a few years, we would dare to compete with figures like Ponting.

Q. Let us talk about your sports career. You never played test cricket- this fact should be taken as one of the biggest surprises of modern cricket. You are supposed to carry on this frustration for the rest of your life.

Siddons: I have faced this question from all the journalists I have talked to. Truly speaking I have no frustration about this matter. I have always been optimistic about the days to come. To me, looking back at the bygones is nothing but wastage of time. I would have felt better if I had the opportunity to represent Australia. But I have never regretted on this ground. I really enjoyed my first class career with Victoria and South Australia. Also I enjoyed coaching Australia and so I am enjoying all the same with Bangladesh.

Q. We all love to think philosophically at our old age. But after scoring thousands of runs in the Australian domestic circuit, you were not picked up for the test squad. And yet it did not hurt you, please don't ask to believe it!

Siddons: To speak honestly, I have never thought about this matter whether I will be included in the test team or not. I only wanted to score more and more runs. That was the only fun; besides there were great players who represented Australia at that time.

Q. Then you were born in wrong time.

Siddons: It might be. I could play a few more matches for Australia; but then what to do. At that time there were great players ahead of me with an average of 40-50 runs. All of them are great players.

Q. Shane Warne ranked you in his greatest 50 players' list. In his list, you are the only selection without any test experience.

Siddons: That was a very interesting selection. Since I have doubt whether I will really qualify even for the top 150! I have to thank him personally when I meet him.

Q. You and Warne, are you to very close?

Siddons: Yes, I like him very much. He is a person I always like to chat with. He is a real character of the game. He is a special person and a good judge of cricketer.