The franchise recalled Sourav Ganguly as captain. (No way other than this)

Dav Whatmore has been confirmed as the new coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, filling in the vacancy left by the sacking of John Buchanan after IPL 2009. His appointment was part of a team management overhaul: the franchise also recalled Sourav Ganguly as captain, named Wasim Akram as their mentor, signed on Vijay Dahiya, the former India wicketkeeper and Delhi coach, to assist Whatmore, while retaining Andrew Leipus as physiotherapist and Adrian Le Roux as physical trainer.

Ganguly said in a press release issued by the team management today that he was keen to bring a turnaround in Kolkata's fortune after a nightmarish 2009 season, in which they finished last. "I am excited at the prospect of working with Dav and the entire team closely in addition to playing at our home ground once again," he said. Ganguly would be responsible for all cricket-related decisions for the next season.

Speaking to Cricinfo, Whatmore said his main objective as coach would be to ensure that his players gel as a unit and start thinking positively after two bad IPL seasons - in which Kolkata finished sixth and eighth - and, to that end, he would bank on Ganguly's wealth of knowledge and Akram's exceptional game-reading skills to turn the team around.

He also said he was confident his experience in the region - he coached the 1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lankan team and later, Bangladesh - would help him develop a "decent relationship" with Ganguly, who has had a controversial history with foreign coaches including Greg Chappell for the Indian team and Buchanan. "I have a fair idea and a fair understanding of the importance of Sourav in Kolkata and it's about getting the best out of him as it is with everyone else."

Significantly, Whatmore said he would not employ the multi-captaincy theory that was mooted by Buchanan and sparked a debate in world cricket before Ganguly was replaced by Brendon McCullum as team captain for the previous season.

Whatmore, however, declined to elaborate on what he felt had been going wrong with the team over the last two years - apart from poor batting, there were reports of a rift between players and the team management - but said he would bank on his experience with the National Cricket Academy, of which he was director for the last two years, to spot new talent and act as a bridge between them and the team's top international players.

Asked where Kolkata would reach in the next IPL starting in March, he said: "Sometimes, I think it's good to have a goal like that, but other times I feel you don't want to limit yourself too much either. But as you saw, in IPL-2, the two teams that finished last and second-last respectively in the first edition ended up being the finalists (Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore). So perhaps, hope is the right word to use now. But I would like to know that hope will become a different word as we go along. That can happen."

Kolkata zeroed in on Whatmore after meeting a number of candidates, including John Wright, Richard Pybus, Dermot Reeve, Duncan Fletcher, Lalchand Rajput, WV Raman and Ashok Malhotra. The team management had informally sounded out Whatmore in June and followed it up with an interview in August at the Mumbai residence of the actor Shah Rukh Khan, who co-owns the Kolkata franchise with businessman Jay Mehta.

Whatmore's presentation to the Kolkata management was titled 'Let's Turn It Around'. "I just want to be the one that helps them turn their fortunes around. It will be a genuine effort." Whatmore will begin his three-yearstint with the team by attending the IPL workshop in Bangkok next week.

Whatmore, 55, played seven Tests for Australia and brings to the IPL an impressive record. Apart from the 1996 World Cup title for Sri Lanka, he guided Bangladesh to two historic wins in the 2007 World Cup against India and South Africa, and also coached Lancashire to title wins in the NatWest and Sunday League in 1998. Last year, he was coach of the India Under-19 team that won the junior World Cup in Malaysia.

Courtesy: Cricinfo

We gonna see Dada in action again!!

Close to a year after retiring from international cricket, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has said he may play for Bengal in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. The 37-year-old pointed out that he was open to the idea of playing "a few of the four-day Ranji Trophy matches" if the Bengal selectors were keen on including him in the team.

"At the moment I haven't spoken to anybody, but I'll definitely be speaking to the selectors, and if I'm required, then I won't mind playing a few matches," Ganguly told the Telegraph, the Kolkata-based daily. "The 2009-10 season is again a very crucial one for Bengal and we're in a tough group. So, if I'm required, I'll be there."

It was reported earlier that Ganguly would be playing for Bengal only in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to gain some match practice before turning out for Kolkata Knight Riders in the third edition of the IPL in March-April next year. However, he said he was keen on playing the home games during the Ranji season and the knock-out matches later, if Bengal qualified.

"I cannot sit out 11 months in a year and hope to fire in the IPL," Ganguly told the Times of India. "It may be Twenty20 cricket, but let's not forget that it's a top-class international tournament and the standard of cricket is very high. I need to get into the groove before IPL 3 starts in March 2010."

Ganguly played 113 Tests and 311 ODIs and scored 7212 and 11363 runs respectively at an average of 40-plus. He also featured in 242 first-class matches, and is 67 short of reaching 15000 runs.

With Bengal taking on heavyweights like Uttar Pradesh, Saurashtra, Karnakata, Maharashtra, Baroda and Delhi in Group B of the Ranji Trophy Super League this season, Ganguly's experience is expected to bolster Bengal's fragile middle order. Bengal are also set to welcome back ICL players like Deep Dasgupta, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Rohan Gavaskar.

Bengal captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla and selector Devang Gandhi were both delighted with Ganguly's decision. "Dadi making a comeback is big news. It will be great for Bengal and a huge plus for Bengal cricket. It will be of great advantage if he turns out this season," Shukla told the Telegraph.

"With the world of experience Sourav's presence brings to the team, it will definitely help Bengal cricket," Gandhi said.

However, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) said it was not yet aware of the development. "He hasn't told us anything," said CAB joint-secretary Biswarup Dey. "It won't be fair to make a comment based on media statements."

Rare Photos of Saurav Ganguly

Some rare photos of "dada" from his past and present days

Sourav at the age of 5.

If not cricket, he would probably have been a football player. A self confessed fan of the great game.

Sourav with wife Dona Ganguly. In his early schooldays, he used to write her essays.

Sourav and Dona at their home.

The first families of cricket Sourav and Sachin along with children.

Tour Photos from England. A group photo of his first tour.

And this one along with Sachin and Vinod Kambli from the same tour

DADA begins TV stint with T20 World Cup

India's most successful captain Sourav Ganguly is set to herald the start of a new innings behind the microphone post-retirement after he was signed by ESPN STAR Sports as an expert analyst for the ICC World Twenty20, commencing in England on Saturday.

Ganguly will be part of an ESPN STAR Sports commentary panel including the likes of Ian Chappell, Ian Bishop, Wasim Akram, Sanjay Manjrekar, Harsha Bhogle and Nasser Hussain.

Ganguly, who will start his stint with the channel from the semi-final stage, said he was excited about his new role, which also comprises interacting with his former teammates.

"I look forward to interviewing my erstwhile teammates. I am very excited about my new role as the ICC World Twenty20 is the biggest event for an analyst like me and I look forward to the semi-finals and the final where I will be commencing my stint with ESS," he said.

R C Venkateish, Managing Director, ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd. Said Ganguly's uncanny ability to read match situations made him fit for the job.

"Sourav is recognised by the cricket fraternity globally as one of the shrewdest captains in the history of the game combined with his extraordinary leadership skills his uncanny ability to read match situations gave the national team a defining edge during his tenure.

"His analysis and his understanding of the modern day game will now lend a new dimension to the overall experience in the commentary box," he added.

STAR Cricket, the 24 hours cricket channel from the ESPN STAR Sports stable, will telecast live all the 27 matches of the tournament.