Never heard of him but it probably increases Whatmore’s chances of becoming the next Pakistani coach…or maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part!!
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/297443.html
Graham Ford was appointed India’s coach on Saturday, filling a two-month-old vacancy and ending a search that seemed to have come to life in only the past week. Ford, the players’ choice for the job, has been offered a one-year contract and is expected to start work during India’s tour of Ireland later this month.
After hearing the presentations of both Ford and John Emburey, the former England offspinner, the BCCI decided to go with Ford. The decision has to be ratified by the working committee of the Board of Control of Cricket in India, which meets in Delhi on June 12, but that is expected to be a mere formality.
Addressing a haphazard and chaotic press conference soon after hearing presentations from both candidates, and then further deliberating among themselves, N Srinivasan, the BCCI treasurer, said, “The committee constituted to select the next Indian coach met and it was decided that the name of Mr Graham Ford would be put forward for the job of Indian coach.”
“It is now for the working committee of the BCCI, which meets in Delhi on June 12, to make the appointment final,” Srinivasan said. It is now up to Ford to indicate when he can seek a release from Kent, the English county where he is currently contracted till 2008.
Just as there seems to be no defined season as far as the organising of matches is concerned, it appears that there’s no real system when it comes to the holding of meetings. The action began to heat up at the Park Sheraton well before 5pm, as Sharad Pawar was present in the hotel and a massive posse of policemen, in uniform and plainclothes, “secured” the area. From the portico outside the hotel to the main lobby, to the elevators, all passages were dotted with cops.
The first real signs of activity began at about 7.20pm when both Emburey and Ford walked into the hotel. They’d both arrived in Chennai on a British Airways flight in the wee hours of Saturday. Once they’d posed for the gathered television cameras and still photographers, they were ushered up to the room where they would make their presentations.
After the arrival of the candidates came the committee. The trio of board officials - Niranjan Shah, the secretary, Ratnakar Shetty, the chief administrative officer, and Mohinder Pandove, the joint secretary - made their way to the meeting room well before the appointed hour. Next to arrive were two former captains, Ravi Shastri and Srinivas Venkataraghavan. The last man to arrive - and he was pulled away from his holiday in Goa - was Sunil Gavaskar, who clocked in at 8.20pm.
Just over two hours later, Ford had the job. Kent will doubtless be reluctant to see him leave mid-season, but if that issue is resolved quickly, Ford’s first assignment might be a three-match series against the team that he coached with distinction for three years at the turn of the millennium.
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
Ford's low-profile persona is both good and bad...
Good because unlike Chappel who was a legend in his own right....Ford's lack of any charismatic background means the team (and also the media) can focus more on Cricket (rather than who said and did what to whom !).
But knowing what happened to Chappel...Ford may become far less authoritative and assertive...which would create fertile ground for politics/favouritism etc within the team like before.
Coaches of desi teams never get a free hand (unlike sports coaches in Western countries). They are in effect asked to perform while being handcuffed.
Even so, I wish Ford the very best.
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
he used to be a off-break bowler. when he bowled a particularly good ball people would say "Thats a Graham Cracker"
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
Ford who? 
I hope PCB does not go for Whatmore now. 
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
There has to be a more stronger reason to rule out Whatmore - something other than his ill-timed statement to join Indian camp. However professional or perfectionist one may be, everyone must have some rome to commit some errors and get away with them.
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
What now whatmore ? 
Back to Bundus … no no not possible after what has gone on all the while
Pak … i hope not because whenever Pak plays India and loses ppl well known (SN) may doubt his loyalties
WI … maybe the right challange for someone like him
After reading that Ford is Players favourite then some1 is correct, Politics might continues … figure out urself what that might bring
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
It is a great by choice by BCCI…although none of us are aware of ford really well, andrew hudson’s article sheds light on Ford’s character…I believe that this chap will work realy well with dravid and sachin…
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/297497.htmlt
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
Ian Chappel is apparently batting for his brother Greg…but I agree with him 100%
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/extracover/content/current/story/297365.html
It’s not the coach, silly
Ian Chappell
June 10, 2007
India has become obsessed with the position of national cricket coach.
The country would be better served by thinking of a coach as a vehicle for moving large groups of people rather than a person who is going to transport the Indian team to the top of world cricket. If there is to be a renaissance in Indian cricket it will come via proud and spirited players, led by a strong captain.
There was no hand-wringing in Australia when John Buchanan moved on after the World Cup triumph. However, if Ricky Ponting was suddenly unable to captain Australia that would be cause for public concern.
Buchanan was in New Zealand when Australia lost the Chappell-Hadlee series three-nil and Ponting was resting. As soon as Ponting returned, albeit along with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke, Australia played like demons to win the World Cup virtually unchallenged. A strong captain who is respected by his players can turn a team around but a coach can do very little sitting on the sidelines.
Ravi Shastri was on the right track when he said before the tour of Bangladesh: “The [Indian] players need to enjoy their cricket.” A happy side is a winning team and they can’t wait to get to the cricket ground and enjoy each others’ company. When a team is losing and things are going wrong then each player starts to think about how he can best help his own cause. That is when they play as individuals and only strong leadership from the captain and senior players can change that status.
If the major cricket nations need a coach at international level then the system that is producing the players isn’t doing its job. Players shouldn’t need coaching at the top level; a bit of fine-tuning every now and again, especially mentally but not constant coaching. A captain needs a managerial type to ‘run his errands’ but not someone to plan the strategy or motivate the team; if the captain, in conjunction with his senior players and bowlers can’t fathom out the opposition then the team is doomed.
A captain must run a cricket team because of the need to adapt tactically as the game unfolds and to be an on-field inspiration. If the captain needs to be told what to do from off the field then the team is in trouble and needs a new skipper. Inspiration can come in many forms with the obvious one being to play well but just as importantly, a captain needs to convey the message to his team that winning is the main objective.
Mark Taylor was a successful captain because he made it clear to his team and the opposition he was trying to win every game from ball one. Ponting turned his captaincy fortunes around when he had a no-holds barred meeting after the Ashes loss in 2005. By calling that meeting Ponting, who had had a very good series personally, made it clear to his team that his priority was the success of the team rather than any individual heroics.
Whether Rahul Dravid can turn India around over the next twelve months will depend on his grasp of those two aspects of leadership; the value of playing to win and honest appraisal within the team.
It won’t be easy for Dravid with a team that has many senior players who are set in their ways and have had illustrious careers. It’s also a difficult task because Dravid has had more than eighteen months to stamp his authority as a leader, so his style is already established and would be hard to alter dramatically.
Nevertheless, he has nothing to lose by becoming a more affirmative leader. Good results against England and then Australia would be a feather in his cap and would establish his captaincy legacy. Just as importantly, it would leave the next captain with an Indian side that was playing the game the ‘right’ way.
For too long now India has been a group of very talented individuals who rarely play as a unit. There were times when Sourav Ganguly, despite a hint of self-preservation in his own play, was able to get India performing as a team but eventually his magic wore off.
India should stop obsessing over the identity of the new coach. If he can assist Dravid build team spirit and player satisfaction then he will have done about all he can as a coach; the miracles will need to come from proud players who are inspired by their captain.
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
No more “whatmore?”, I hope this is what Pakistan does as well :k:
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
I had almost fainted by the time I had downloaded and listened to Manjrekar’s comments, his observations on a handful of senior players in the Indian circuit. Quote, “His immediate challenge at the moment, we’ve got two distinct set of players. Very senior players, who are close to retirement in an about a year, two or three.” A year, two or three? It was said at such an afterthought that I gave a thought to myself telling that what is a coach to do in such situations. No more injections of fresh blood at the expense of well-known senior players. Not for another year, two or three.
Excellent statement!
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
Graham Ford will not be India’s next coach as he has turned down the offer:
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
wow…a slap on indian media who kept on saying “one of the most important jobs in cricekting circles” or “one of the most prized assignments in international cricket”…blah blah blah…there you go…ford even does not want that ****ty job…go find another pimp for you BCCI…
on a serious note, one may wonder why the hell ford made a presentation in India two days ago when he was not sure about the job at all…an idiot…
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
Something must have happened in the last few hours for him to have turned down the job.
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
nice… well played Graham :k:. if i was in his place I would have done it all exactly like he did it.
Re: Graham Ford to be India’s next coach
I agree. PCB should definitely not do that. Don’t hire some one who openely wanted to coach a team other than yours and now is only available becuase they did not like each others terms.
They (PCB) should rather get a low profile, hard working coach with the necessary talents and energy.
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
Great news....This FOrd guy has some balls....I guess any man with some integrity would not want to be part of system where after he gives up his best efforts to make change in a team, he will be getting taunted by media+board+seniors in team. FORD, ATABOY!
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
Great news....This FOrd guy has some balls....I guess any man with some integrity would not want to be part of system where after he gives up his best efforts to make change in a team, he will be getting taunted by media+board+seniors in team. FORD, ATABOY!
I agree Nikema but what i do not understand why the hell he was showing interest in this job at the first place....I mean he knew all the risks before he came for the job interview/presentation all the way to India two days ago ....BCCI must be feeling stupid rigt now but the fact remains that Ford was sort of unprofessional in his approach...I think ehsan bhai is right in mentioning that something has happened in last few hours that forced ford to withdraw.....well, in our countries, every thing goes through a drama....
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
mashallah a great victory for Pakistan
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
Whatever the reasons for Ford, I am happy he gave BCCI a kick in their arse. The BCCI baniyaas and politicians (Pawar) should know that not everything can be bought by showing money. I feel sorry for John Emburey though....if there was any doubt that he was called for the interview only to make it seem like a contest - it would be cleared now since he is not even being considered even after Ford has turned down the offer.
Over to Madan Lal now. Our public, our board and our "star" players deserve him.
Re: Graham Ford to be India's next coach
I agree Nikema but what i do not understand why the hell he was showing interest in this job at the first place....I mean he knew all the risks before he came for the job interview/presentation all the way to India two days ago ....BCCI must be feeling stupid rigt now but the fact remains that Ford was sort of unprofessional in his approach...I think ehsan bhai is right in mentioning that something has happened in last few hours that forced ford to withdraw.....well, in our countries, every thing goes through a drama....
I do not think that there was any clause in the agreement that he disagreed to or there was any contractual disagreement.
SIrJee, The Word India has alot of attraction for someone who has never been part of this society, from outside what ford or anyone from outside world sees is a place which is going to be next giant of a society, the next big thing. Now once you get to know this society, once you start dealingwith this society you will realize that it is not half as accepting not half as open minded as it wants rest of the world to think of it....and this is exactly what he felt after he got there in India, being coach he would want as much control as he would have to coach any side(either club side or High school side) to get the best results....Now when he gets there and he sees that no matter what he will do as coach he will be looked as outsider who is trying to impose himself. So if he wants Sachin to have an extra 15 minutes session after noticing that sachin has getting out in a certain way (lets just say Bowled or LBW), over half of the country (Including BCCI + man with 10K runs+ Some one with one good series in his whole Career) will dig through FORD's first class record as cricketer and make a case that Sachin can do better than this guy with his both eyes closed....so this guy has no right to tell anything to Sachin or he cant make Saurav do an extra lap of ground at the end of the net session....
Now tell me which honest to his profession person would waana be part of this system?? Ford obviously realized all this when he got to india, realize that what he was about to get into and like a smart person, decided to Opt out.