The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Duncan Fletcher as the coach of the Indian cricket team for a period of 2 years, this morning.
Andrew Fletcher and Stephen Fleming lost the race to what is being considered the most sought-after coaching job in the cricket world.
Fletcher replaces Gary Kristen, who has set a formidable benchmark for his successor by guiding Team India to victory in the 2011 World Cup. The Indian cricket team ranks no. 1 in Tests and no. 2 in ODIs right now, thanks in good measure to him. It ranked no. 1 in ODIs too very briefly - for a couple of days - over a year back.
By all accounts Gary Kristen was persuaded to continue as coach, but he eventually decided to put his family over his job, and chose not to renew his contract.
Fletcher, a Zimbabwean-born British citizen, was the captain of the Zimbabwe cricket team during the 1983 World Cup. He had later served as the coach of the England cricket team for 8 years, and guided England to 8 consecutive test victories as part of that stint.
Eric Simmons will continue as the bowling coach for the Indian cricket team.