Best Cricket Coaches In The World
It isn’t an easy job being a coach. Just ask Ravi Shastri. He coached India to a historic test series win in Australia but still could not win over supporters of the team. In the modern day, performances in all three formats matter and the best cricket coaches in the world are able to deliver accordingly.
Shastri and India’s exit at the 2019 Cricket World Cup was seen as somewhat of an underachievement. This, given the strength of their ODI side.
Coaching requires good man-management and tactical nous, along with experience. There are some very fine coaches in today’s game and in this article we will delve deeper into their achievements and their characteristics.
So, who are the best cricket coaches in the world?
Mike Hesson
Mike Hesson is one of the best up and coming coaches in world cricket. He had a fantastic stint with the New Zealand Cricket Team between August 2012 and April 2018, which included a historic test series win at home against England.
In ODI cricket, he took New Zealand to the 2015 Cricket World Cup final. He was heralded for scouting high-quality domestic talent that has helped the Kiwis remain a very strong side in all formats till this day.
In 2017/18 New Zealand won 13 successive games in a row in all formats under his coaching.
Mike Hesson is number five on our list of “Best cricket coaches in the world.”
Mickey Arthur
Mickey Arthur has worked with various international teams. He had two great spells – one with South Africa and one with Pakistan.
Between May 2005 and January 2010 he helped South Africa become the best test team in the world – a position from which they continued to dominate even after he left the job. This included two historic test series wins in England and Australia.
In May 2016, Mickey Arthur became the Pakistani Cricket Coach. Under his tenure, Pakistan became both the number 1 test side in the world and the number 1 T20I side. The highlight of his time though, was a historic first Champions Trophy win in 2017, beating arch-rivals India in the final.
Mickey Arthur is number four on our list of “Best cricket coaches in the world.”
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Stephen Fleming
Perhaps the greatest T20 coach in the world. Stephen Fleming has been excellent throughout T20 leagues for almost a decade. He is characterised by his trust in players and giving them a long run in the side, in order to give them security and freedom to express themselves.
His most successful side has been the Chennai Super Kings. He has worked brilliantly in combination with MS Dhoni to lead the franchise to three titles in the Indian Premier League. He also helped the Melbourne Stars reach the final of the Big Bash League.
Stephen Fleming is number three on our list of “Best cricket coaches in the world.”
Trevor Bayliss
Trevor Bayliss coached England between 2015 and 2019 and left the job having succeeded in bringing the biggest prize in the sport – The ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019.
His philosophy was to give players the freedom to trust their own ability and attack. His aggressive style of cricket revolutionised English Cricket and brought the best out of stars such as Jason Roy and Jos Buttler.
He had less success in test cricket but still enjoyed some top quality away victories. England won in South Africa in 2015/16 and in Sri Lanka in 2018. He also helped the side win the Ashes series in 2015 at home and beat India 4-1 in 2018.
Trevor Bayliss is number two on our list of “Best cricket coaches in the world.”
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Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten is highly regarded as one of the best cricket coaches in the world. He is known for his man-management and his ability to handle big names and take the pressure off them to perform.
Under Kirsten, India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup at home, which is seen as one of their biggest achievements till date. Kirsten managed to gel the team beautifully and had them playing at their top level in the key moments.
He helped South Africa return to the summit of the test rankings in 2012, having been dethroned from the top previously. Under his coaching tenure, South Africa did not lose a single test in England or Australia and won both series away from home (2-0 and 1-0). He formed a fantastic relationship with Graeme Smith.
Gary Kirsten is number one on our list of “Best cricket coaches in the world.”
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