I have a special affinity with India: Jones

By Malcolm Conn

SYDNEY, OCT. 2. Dean Jones, one of four foreign applicants for the coaching position, claims that he has developed a special affinity with India. The former Australian batting dynamo says he has visited the sub- continent almost 50 times through cricket tours and more recently his work. He acts as a facilitator for Australian businesses expanding to India. ``I go to India at least four times a year and I like the place,'' Jones said. ``I think that has helped me to understand a little bit about the culture and the pressures that the players are under.'' India was the catalyst for his international cricket career back in 1986, when he scored what eventually became a life-threatening 210 during the dramatic tied Test in Madras. A year later Jones returned with the an unfancied Australian one- day squad which became World Cup champion.

He did some work with the Indian team during its disappointing tour of Australia last season and says he gets on well with the senior players.

``I've got a few ideas which I believe could help. If I didn't think they could improve I wouldn't have put in for the job,'' said Jones, who would use fitness and fielding as the basis of his programme.

India has plenty of room for improvement. While it is outstanding at home its record on the road is woeful.

Jones, 39, a former Victorian and Derby captain, is one of four candidates on a short list to become the first foreign mentor of cricket's biggest country. The others are former Australian coach Geoff Marsh, once a teammate of Jones's, former West Indian coach and fast bowler Andy Roberts and former New Zealand opening batsman John Wright.

Wright remains the favourite. He has a close association with Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid, Kent's professional, and Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who also just finished a season of county cricket with Lancashire.

However Jones has already spoken to Ganguly about the prospect of becoming coach and was encouraged by the hearing he received. ``He was fabulous but they're trying to get themselves right for a busy summer and their team's in transition at the moment,'' Jones said.

``It depends what Sourav wants. If he wanted Geoff (Marsh) more than me then I would back off. The captain is the most important part of the team.''

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