Indian efficiency analyst with SA “working from home” throughout Pak sequence after being denied visa

When the South African cricket group takes on Pakistan within the first Test in Karachi on January 26, one vital member of their assume tank, much-respected efficiency analyst of 11 years, Prasanna Agoram can be “working from home” in Bangalore. He has been unable to hitch his group which landed in Pakistan on Saturday as he has an Indian visa, and the South African group administration advised him that regardless of their efforts, he can’t journey to the nation resulting from “security protocols”.
Clad in a South African group jersey, sporting his official coaching sneakers, Agoram can be in his eating room at residence, amidst a path of wires, two laptops, a UPS for uninterrupted energy provide and with a bowl of murukku, the crunchy-savoury snack, and filter espresso.
“I am like a dead man walking,” Agoram tells The Indian Express, unable to cover his disappointment at lacking his first sequence ever since he joined South Africa. “I will do my best from here but yes, this is a big blow for me and for the players in the team who depend on me for the detailed analysis that’s best done from the ground. But we need to understand the protocols in place. I have been told that Lalchand Rajput, former India player who coaches Zimbabwe, couldn’t travel to Pakistan, umpire Aleem Dar is unable to come for work to India and such. So, I am not the only person.”
Agoram received’t have the ability to transmit immediate evaluation and technical and tactical suggestions as safety protocols throughout match time stop telecommunication from outdoors the dressing room. Only the supervisor of the group is allowed to have a cellphone throughout match time, and even that’s restricted to logistical functions. Usually, Prasanna is most lively on match days, transferring his inputs at drinks breaks or with the coaches via the sport.
Feedback after play
He has his plans to work across the scenario although. At the tip of the day’s play, by the point the gamers get again to their resort rooms, they might be despatched particular person digital paperwork which might give them particulars on what they did proper, what they did incorrect, and the way they’ll enhance. The coaches could have information out there for them to work on.
Clad in a South African group jersey, sporting his official coaching sneakers, Agoram can be in his eating room. (File)
“Players who need face-to-face chats – the medium that they prefer- will have Zoom calls and such. Where I can take them through slides, if needed. Or just talk and share. I have a UPS with one hour back-up. I am all set to do ball-by-ball analysis,” Prasanna says.
As ever, he has been exhausting at work in current days, culling information – numbers and video footage -from Pakistan home matches, analysing the house group together with their new gamers, and making ready tactical strategies to deal with their spinners and bowl at their batsmen.
Not the identical feeling
However, all this could’t replicate the texture of being on the floor. “What I would miss most is the week before the Test match, actually. That’s when the real prep work gets done.” He provides an instance to make his case.
“Let’s say, the sweep shot. The best player of the sweep there has ever been is Pakistan’s Younis Khan. What I do is have his technique on a split frame on the left-hand side.” He then takes the footage he shoots of the South African batsmen and locations it on the fitting body. “I then compare and tell the batsmen what more they can do. They don’t have to do it like Younis, of course, as his method and physical traits are different but to give an idea about how low they can get. What’s the ideal height and length to go for?”
That best top has to soak up the bounce and switch within the pitches. “That’s best seen live at the nets. Then we can tweak accordingly. And there are several sweep shots – the flat sweep, the paddle, the reverse, the slog, and all that is also best worked out on the ground and tailored according to the spinner they will be facing. That can be communicated from here, but again nothing like being there. Someone like Temba Bavuma likes to see analysis and video footage from nets and tailor it. One good thing is that these players are highly professional and good; so, they will adjust but still I feel I could have added more if I were there.”
Hopeful of excellent outcome
Agoram is upbeat about South Africa’s probabilities within the sequence. “We just beat Sri Lanka and also in Galle (2014), a place where even India hasn’t been able to (win of late). In Keshav Maharaj, we have one of the best finger spinners in the world. How many bowlers have taken nine wickets in an innings? Tabraiz Shamsi is coming along very nicely and George Linde, the left-arm spinner, is very talented. Our fast bowlers are known to the world; so are our batsmen who just did it again in Sri Lanka.”
One factor the gamers will miss is smearing the cake on Prasanna’s birthday on January 23. “I am the one who creates the most mess on players’ birthdays, smearing cake on their faces. Their revenge is on my birthday. That they will miss now!” he says with amusing. “I have been with them for 11 years; the bonding is something out of this world.”
As ever, as soon as the umpire says, ‘let’s play’ and the bowler runs in to bowl for the primary ball of the match, Agoram says an inner monologue will run in his thoughts. “I visualise Amitabh Bachchan about to start the ‘fastest fingers first’ round in his show Kaun Banega Crorepati. “Aap ka time shuru hota hai ab!” (Your time begins now!).