Sir Ian Botham created a stir with his thoughts on the IPL, as delivered in his MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture.
But it was another comment, from Matt Prior in the post-lecture Q&A, that really caught my attention.
Speaking on the County Game, Prior observed “I find that a lot of young players coming through are over coached”.
He went on: [when they walk out to bat, young players] “…almost need the coach next to them…they are not able to make decisions for themselves.”
There is something in this, but also a certain irony coming from a player who was a member of what was described as one of the best-prepared England teams ever to tour Australia…before losing the Ashes 5-0.
Could it be, then, that the England team in Australia were over-coached? Or (not quite the same thing) over-reliant on the support from their coaches?
The Teesra 