It is going to be a tough task selecting the successor to John Wright. After all, he has been largely responsible in bringing India to the threshold of unparalleled success. That things took a turn for the worse during the Pakistan tour did not overshadow Wright's contribution as coach of the national side over a period spanning five years.

Much in contrast to the aggressive approach of skipper Sourav Ganguly, Wright was content to make his voice heard from behind the closed doors of the dressing room. Not frazzled by the demi-god status of the players, and perhaps not completely comprehending the origins or sustenance of such worship, Wright was subtle in effecting a change in attitude and putting team success ahead of individual goals.
 

Wright's tenure has witnessed a significant attempt to change India's poor overseas record. Like the Indian skipper, he placed his trust in youngsters, and they did not let him down. The 2002 NatWest Trophy final, which was fashioned by two fiercely determined youngsters in Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, was a case in point.

The Indian administration shot itself in the foot by arranging a difficult tour of New Zealand before the all-important World Cup 2003 in South Africa, but credit must be given to Wright for infusing confidence in the battered players, who bounced back with a vengeance and made it to the final. There, they lost to the best team of the tournament, and indeed, the best side in the world.

A new phase in Indian cricket begins with Wright's departure, the ultimate goal of which has to be the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. With the premier tournament around two years away, it is just about the right time to ring in the changes and allow for the evolution of a new lasting player-coach relationship that will be as much, if not more, successful than Wright's association with the team.

It would have hurt the Indian squad not to have given Wright a winning send-off by winning the series against Pakistan. He certainly deserved to leave on a high note. But Pakistan spoilt the party.

The only thing that could be possibly worse than the loss to Pakistan would be the undoing of all the hard work of Wright by one wrong decision. It is vital for the BCCI to appoint a man who will carry on all the good things initiated by his predecessor. The efforts put in by Wright to make this Indian team a potent force in world cricket should not be allowed to go waste.