5 most impactful cricket coaches in modern era

There has always been a debate whether a coach can really create an impact on the on-field performance of a cricket team. The answer to this popular argument has already been addressed by some of the most successful coaches in the past who played a crucial role in some memorable victories of the teams that they have coached.

In essence, the role of a coach is to assess the skill sets, strengths and weaknesses of the individual players and help the team in designing the road map for success. In this process, a few coaches tend to get their plans executed well due to their impeccable ability to communicate with the team members by giving adequate freedom which plays a major role in motivating the team members.

The impact the coaches have had on the teams has helped them raise the level of their game by winning crucial tournaments when the teams were going through a tough phase. Let us discuss the contributions made by such effective coaches whose outstanding efforts brought laurels to the respective cricketing nations.

#1 Dav Whatmore – Mastermind behind Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup win

The best moment in the history of Sri Lankan cricket is undoubtedly the famous 1996 World Cup win when they successfully defeated the mighty Australian side in the finals at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. Dav Whatmore was the key architect behind the resurgent cricket played by the Sri Lankan team throughout the tournament by taking the advantage of the fielding restrictions in the first fifteen overs. This later became a hallmark in one-day internationals.

The vigorously aggressive batting strategy adopted by the opening pair Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana has set a new benchmark in the history of the game. A special mention has to be made with regard to the improvement in the ground fielding of the Sri Lankan side during the 1996 world cup campaign.

Whatmore’s undeterred attitude combined with the aggressive game plan executed by the Sri Lankan cricket team had resulted in a memorable victory for them, which they would cherish for years to come.