Finally, It is decided that Graham Ford will be India’s new coach. The seven-man committee took just an hour to decide who should be India’s next coach. The committee that took the decision comprised of secretary Niranjan Shah, joint-secretary MP Pandove, treasurer N Srinivasan apart from former captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and S Venkatraghavan.
Ford had an edge over Emburey as he was the favourite among the senior members of the Indian team apart from Gavasker who was in the favour of John Emburey. Ford has already been warned by John Wright (Team India coach from 2000 to 2005) to ready for cultural shock.
History of Graham Ford 
In 1992, he became coach of South Africa’s domestic Natal side and then he took over from late Bob Woolmer and coached the South Africa national side between 1999 and 2001. He lost his job in 2001 following the Hansie Cronje scandal and became director of cricket at Kent three years later. In 2006 he returned to South Africa to coach Natal.
Ford’s To-Do List :
- Enter low Profile and stay low profile
- Balance between experience and young blood
- Sort out the basics
- Earning players trust
- No immediate revolution
It would be very interesting to see how he handle the HOT Team India after Greg Chappell failed effort.
Update : 11/07/2007
Ford declines India coach job
The BCCI’s shambolic efforts to find a national coach took an embarrassing turn today when it was revealed that Graham Ford, the former South African coach who’s now director of coaching at Kent County Cricket Club, had turned down the offer to coach the national side.
Graham Ford, in a statement on the web site, said :
I am very grateful to the Club for allowing me to go to India to find out more about the job of coaching the Indian Team. I have had a chance to reflect on the offer made by the BCCI and their urgency to fill the vacant position. After careful consideration, I have decided to continue my work here at Kent. This has been a really difficult decision. I am honoured that India have shown such interest in my capabilities, but feel that this is the right decision for me and my family.
