T20 World Cup Groups Explained: Who Can Reach Super 8
Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus is clear about what Kirsten brings. First, there is the obvious pedigree. Kirsten toured the subcontinent extensively as a player, coached in the IPL and most memorably led Team India under MS Dhoni to triumph in the 2011 ODI World Cup.“He (Kirsten) has a lot of experience. He brings a winning edge to our campaign. He also brings a lot of knowledge about different areas in India,” Erasmus said.Apart from the trophies, the way Kirsten goes about her job seems to resonate much more with this Namibian group. Erasmus suggested that the influence was subtle but deeply felt. “It’s very nice in terms of management to have pedigree mentors-cum-coaches like that who really like to bring the human side to their coaching first and really like to connect with players on a deeper level,” Erasmus said.For a side like Namibia, where players often balance cricketing dreams with semi-professional realities, a player-first approach carries even more weight.“That’s what (the player-first approach) we respect most about Gary and all the other coaches. Cricket is very condition-based and it’s wonderful to have,” the 30-year-old Namibia captain said.