Name: Ash
Question: I got a technical question for you Gary. I'm a 19 year "fast" bowler and I play for my club. Over the years I have never had any formal coaching and all I have learnt is from looking at others and from TV. Due to this I have never had a proper bowling action since I have always been changing something looking at others. Now I'm at a point where every thing has fallen apart in my bowling action and I almost need to start all over again. I read advice about doing what feels "natural" and at the moment nothing feels natural to me and I feel I need to build my action from scratch. What is ur advice? Thanks

A – There are many unique bowling actions out there and whilst one is always cautious to try and change things too much, there are a few fundamentals that remain important to any bowling action. I believe one of the most important aspects to fast bowling is what are you doing before you actually release the ball. If you don't have a smooth and rythmical run up that gets you into you into a strong position when you land at the crease, you are going to have problems. Equally if you are not well balanced at the crease and through your delivery with all your body parts heading as much as possible towards your target, you are going to be inconsistent and possibly have injury problems.

Name: Andile Ndlovu
Question: How does the Indian team's approach to training -in your esperience- differ from that of the Protea's?

A – There are similarities, of course, but Paddy and I both believe in keeping things fresh and doing things a little differently sometimes. Elite international cricketers don't always need a net – they can obviously bat and bowl very well! Sometimes a genuine rest is the best training you can do. Fitness training is different, however. Paddy and I both believe in the merits of hard work! 

Name: Santosh Bhargav
Question: Hi Gary, My question to you is that, Indian team is traditionally good at hoe. But when they travel, they do tend to choke. Often Senior's in team have bailed them out. When I say senior's it is Sachin, Saurav, Dravid and Lakshman. Leaving Lakshman who is poor in fielding, dont you think that we need to have atleast 2 seniors making it to One day squad. Sachin being the only person who is experienced.... Also if you look at the 2 finals played in Australia where India won both, it was sachin who won them 60% of it. What is your take on that. P.N: Sachin and Saurav are world record opening pair havung 17 centuriy patnerships.
 
A- There is no doubting that the senior players are and will continue to be great performers. However it is very important for any organisation to think ahead and plan for the future. Indian cricket is in this transition phase and has made some courageous moves to expose younger players to international cricket. I think it's a little harsh to say this current team choke when away from home. They have just come off an incredible win in Australia with the likes of Sachin, Gautham Ghambir, Ishant Sharma, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma all playing incredibly well. It was also only 8 months ago that this young team won the T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Name: Himadri Gautam
Comments: Hi Gary, How are you doing? I'm the journalist who did your interview in Abu Dhabi for Ten Sports, just wanted to tell you that we received an overwhelming viewer response to your interview, everyone liked your views for Indian cricket and appreciated your coaching philosophy. The IPL is over and it's a real pity that none of the Indian captains could pull it off. However MSD almost pulled it off. The next time we meet I would like to do your interview for our special series called 'Simply the Best', in which we profile the legends of sports, the like of Muhammad Ali, Maradona, Jordan, Richards etc etc... Hope we can stay in touch.. All the best. Himadri Gautam.

A- No problem, I'm sure we can organise something when I'm next there.

Name: Tanmoy Mookherjee
Comments: Hello Gary, I am a reporter with cricketnext.com. Came across your website which has a lot of information on you. Don't know whether it's the right way, but was wondering if an interview would be possible with you ahead of the Sri Lanka Tests and One-dayers in July-August. We are based in New Delhi, part of the Network18 group which also has CNN-IBN, a leading news channel. If possible, even an interview over e-mail would do. Expecting a kind reply. Thank.

A- We can do something over email.

Name: mark jenniker
Question: Good day Gary. My friend has a real fear of short-pitch bowling, and it is really affecting him. What can be done to help? Ps. Good luck with your new job. You and Paddy are good for the image of South Africa, more specifically Cape Town

A – I've been asked this question several times now. The best thing your friend can do is be honest about his fear and accept it. Don't deny it – every batsman has a fear of fast, short-pitched bowling, it's that cricket has a centuries old tradition of macho denial which is absolute nonsense. If your friend accepts his 'weakness' he will become a much better player. He also needs to develop a technique in how to deal with the short ball. This might not require actually playing it, but getting out of the way of it effectively.

Name: Arsh
Question: How do you cope with stresses that come up with coaching a team like India? Like facing the Indian media after a loss? Greg Chappell struggled but you have made a sound start. Great job and wish you good luck!!

A – Thank you, Arsh. I am a cricket coach and I have the biggest job in my profession in the world, but it is not stressful. The man who has lost his job and is struggling to feed his family will feel stressed, but not a cricket coach. It is important, but it is not life and death. As long as I am doing everything to prepare the team for perfomance and leaving no stone unturned, then the outcome is out of my hands. The pressures that come with it I will have to accept as will any professional sporting coach

Name: Vincent Peacock
Question: First of all congratulations on the 3rd test. Is it fair to assume that when you play in the sub continent we just have to get used to the pitches, the one in Kanpur was a real beauty I do not think they come any worse, which brings me to my question. How does an international side prepare for wickets like the one in the 3rd test?

A – A great deal of the preparation for extreme or adverse conditions must be done in the head. Time and time again we see teams, especially batsmen, develop a negative frame of mind because the pitch looks a bit green or a bit dry – effectively they are defeated before they have even faced a ball. The Kanpur pitch was a bit extreme, however, and the BCCI were warned by the ICC that it should not be repeated. As India coach, however, I was very pleased with the result! I thought we played really well to beat SA in that match. Lets not forget SA were 150 for 1 and had the best of the wicket and lost in 3 days.

Name: Greeshma
Question: Hi Gary, Congratulations on the wonderful comeback victory! I'd just like to know what was the biggest misconception you had about being the Indian coach and how different has it been to what you imagined?

A – It is still very early days – we have only played one series. In some ways it was a pity that the IPL started so quickly after the South Africa series because I would have loved to continue with the momentum we had built after the third Test. But I don't think I misunderstood anything about the job. It's huge – I always knew that!

Name: Kiran Lalloo
Question: I am sure the number one question you get asked on this site will be regarding your feelings about being South African and coaching India. Allan Donald had a response that I think is quite apt, " It's not about the badge" All the best for the job Gary. I have to tell you though that my wishes only extend to non SA matches. I am a South African of Indian decent so it means even more to me when we beat India. You are following in the footsteps of many great players who played with passion for their country but landed up coaching in other countries and doing so with just as much passion.

A – That's very kind of you, Kiran. I, too, am a proud South African but I feel absolutely no conflict of interests when it comes to cricket at the moment. I wondered before the South African series whether I would feel a twinge of doubt but there were none. As far as cricket is concerned for the next two years, I am Indian.

Name : Nishanth, 19 years old
Question: Gary, do you believe that a captain should earn respect from a team? or is any team expected to respect a captain from the word go?

A – Excellent question, Nishanth. I am a great believer in leaders earning the respect of their colleagues and employees. Having said that, even if you do not respect your captain as a cricketer or a person, then you need to have respect for the captaincy itself. No team can function to its full potential if even one player is insubordinate.

Name : AYAN SARKAR
Question: What is the key to build a team that is a cohesive and well-knit unit as well as adjusted to all types of pitches and weather conditions? Can the Indian cricket team achieve it?

A – The key is strong leadership allied with creative thinking and planning. There are many good cricketers in the world but only a few become ‘elite’. And the best teams are, as you say, able to adapt to different conditions and much of that process place in the mind. Yes, of course India can achieve it! I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe that!

Name : gaurav
Question: Dear gary I visited your website fortuitously. Its a great endeavour on your part to share your thoughts on cricket in context to india. This way we'll be able to comprehend you better. I wanted to ask you about the fitness aspect of indian cricketers, are our cricketer fit enough before one can even think of them as world-beaters? And why is wasim jaffer despite his poor run being persisted with?

A – ‘Fitness’ is almost an unattainable goal in the sense that one can never really be fit ‘enough’. If you are fit ‘enough’, then why can’t you be a little bit fitter? Physical conditioning is one of many componentsPaddy and I will be working hard on for the next two years and the Indian players are very willing workers. As far as individual selection is concerned, I will leave comment to selectors. All I will say is that I know how hard the job of opening the batting can be!

Name : Nagendra
Comments: It is a well deserving victory for India and maintained 2nd ranking in ICC standing. I think Smith was very gracious in defeat and shown a true professionalism in acknowledging Indian bowling and Dada's effort unlike Aussie if they were in similar context. I think the IPL will provide more professional to a game which is much older than base ball or NBA/NFL. I also believe players respect you and value your suggestions (i think you being personally present in down under series helped a lot). Great job Garry...make us proud by building next genX indian team. thanks NB

A - Many thanks, Nagendra. Some people have said the IPL is 'too much' – well, I believe cricket can learn a great deal from the professional structures of the American franchise sports…and they play 180 baseball matches per year over there!