EMBUREY AS COACH?

It's a long shot, but John Emburey coaching India? Ironic, considering it was India who finished his international career.

My first memory of Emburey is the nagging spinner, who played his part in the victorious Ashes campaign of 1986-87. Saw a lot of him in action during the 1987 World Cup. And he could hold fort with the willow too, coming up with useful knocks in the lower middle order. He captained England in two tests in 1988, and got battered by a rampaging West Indies both times. A year later he had become a banned cricketer, heading for South Africa with Mike Gatting's rebel side.

But that wasn't the end of his international career. Towards the end of 1992, an ageing Emburey, leaning towards 40, was back. Graham Gooch's England wanted to keep a tight leash on Indian batsmen in their den, and decided to bank on his experience.

Navjot Singh Sidhu was lying eagerly in wait though. After missing the 1992 World Cup and the South Africa series, he wanted sixes aplenty in his name. And Emburey was his hapless prey. The veteran turned his arm over, only for the ball to disappear into the stands. Sidhu seemed to be licking his lips at the sight of Emburey bowling and the battle-hardened veteran was reduced to a nervous wreck. For a schoolboy like me, he had become an object of ridicule.

Only Sachin Tendulkar is left from the side who buried Emburey the player. Though Emburey the coach may be a different proposition altogether, it's strange to imagine a player hounded out by Indian batsmen returning to coach them.