John Wright's Indian Summers

by John Wright 2, Sharda Ugra, Paul Thomas

Former New Zealand test cricket opener John Wright was appointed coach of the Indian cricket team in 2000. Against all predictions Wright - the first foreigner ever appointed to the position - held that position almost unchallenged throughout four successful, but often-turbulent years. In that time Wright was privy to the inner workings of Indian cricket and in this book he offers unique perspectives on the game that captivates a nation of one billion people. Throughout his coaching tenure Wright has faithfully kept a diary that has proved invaluable in chronicling his time on the sub-continent. Wright's first book was, by turn, funny, insightful and, inevitably, massively successful. In this book Wright - who enjoyed four hugely successful seasons with English county side Kent before taking up the big job with India - is set to open up. From the captaincy controversies to the idiosyncrasies of the Indian Board of Control; from the idolatry of the Tendulkars and the Dravids to the vagaries of the legendary spin bowlers, all is revealed. Batting, bowling and betting...Wright pulls no punches.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Biography, India

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2007

About the author

VARIOUS

Reviews

[Selva · Rating 4 out of 5]

John wright's account about his coaching years with the Indian cricket team. That was the time we had a great batting line-up and India kind of became a formidable team under his coaching. It is a shame that he packed all his musings about coaching as a job to the last chapter - roughly the last 25 pages. That is the best part of the book. The rest of the book is an account of what happened during that time with anecdotes here and there but there was nothing deep. No great analysis of our batting line-up or any behind-the-scenes account of how the team prepared to face the Aussies or Pakis or how they tactically got a prolific batsman of the opponent team out...that kind of insider stuff. It was more like "we were in a difficult situation and Dravid and Laxman got us out with a terrific partnership. Dravid scored 140 and Laxman 85" kind of stuff. The popular opinion during his tenure about John Wright was that he is a softy. Though here he argues why it is not that way, I still cannot shake the feeling that he was a soft coach. But I liked the book, the tone of the writing, the subtle humour and for a few other things. It wasn't boring. Recommended for cricket lovers. Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

[Ajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure nostalgia. Very well written account of the period when John Wright served as the coach of indian cricket team. A must read for those who have grown up alongside the careers of ganguly, dravid, laxman and tendulkar.

[Sirish · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up Indian Summers, all I wanted was to be taken on a nostalgia trip. The 281 Era was my childhood. I grew up idolising Dravid and Laxman and spent summer evenings alone in my backyard, cover driving the ball that rebounded after I threw it at the wall. It was a sumptuous time to grow-up; I was too young to be affected by the match-fixing scam and too old to be enamoured by the IPL blitzkrieg. Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman, Kumble and Srinath were the best role models any parent could have hoped for and influenced me most in my formative years. Their time together, with others in the 281 era, is a beautiful story with all the wonderfully diverse characters and India's battles in foreign frontiers.

Everybody who grew up in India in those years inevitably loved the partnership of Wright and Ganguly and more so in hindsight after the debacle of Chappell-Dravid. Indian Summers is a great book filled with funny anecdotes and Wright's dry wit elegantly understates the passion, determination and hardwork put in by that very special bunch. I particularly like the structure of inter-connected long essays and though there is a chapter on the role of the coach, I'd have liked if he'd shared more of his thoughts on tactics and the subtleties of Test Cricket.

I recommend it to all who cherish the memories of The 281 Era.

[Bhaargav · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by John Wright is about his time as coach of the Indian cricket team for a period of about 4.5 years between 2001 and 2005. It's a breezy read sprinkled with light anecdotes and written with humility, self deprecating humour and a sense of wonder, surprise, frustration, gratefulness, helplessness and awe all rolled into.
I've always found it fascinating to get a inside view of what goes into building and running a tiyp professional sports team and while he doesn't get very deep into the technical, tactical or even strategic aspects on coaching the India cricket team, Wright does enough to satiate my curiosity with reflections on Indian players and the away tours he was a part of.

[Umesh Kesavan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering the author coached the Indian cricket team during it's most transformative phase, the expectations from the book are high. The sense of humour is a particular highlight but otherwise, John Wright's bemused fascination with India and it's ways make for merely familiar reading. A separate chapter on icons like Ganguly, Sachin and Dravid was warranted but Wright gets content with concise descriptions on clashes and discussions. John Wright's tenure means much more to Indian fans than what is described in the book but at best, the book remains an outsider's account - engaging but aloof.

[Siddharth Prasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read for a cricket fan! More so for someone like me who’s been fan of, and following Indian cricket since the 90s.

Wright is humble, straightforward, sharp and caring with a dry sense of humour. He takes your through this memory lane of emotions, classic contests and Indian cricket personalities in one of the most defining and successful periods of Indian cricket. This one is a charming read and invokes nostalgia.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent one for cricket fans and those with fond memories of those great matches in the 00’s where the Ganguly/Wright-led Indian team went toe to toe with Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting’s Australians. Lots of interesting reflections on players such as Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman as well as on coaching itself, the unique Indian approach to cricket administration and selection and the emerging globalisation of the game.

[Harshvardhan Baxi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of the Indian Cricket Team for as long as i can remember. John's account of coaching my team has everything that a cricket fan could hope for. It's not a handbook on coaching or a groundbreaking book like Michael Lewis's Moneyball but it does leave you wanting to learn more about the glorious era where Sourav Ganguly & Co. nearly became an all-format dominant force in the world of cricket. Thank you John for the memories. It's been a pleasure.

[Srikkanth Dhasarathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book now, in 2019, when India is an actual absolute superpower in cricket with standards set so high by some of the players across formats, makes one really empathize with John wright. In hindsight, he can say, he did so much with so little. Nevertheless, a decent read for a lover of the sport with anecdotes sprayed here and there.

[Gaurav Gupte · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you were an ardent follower of the Indian Cricket Team in the 90s, this book does not tell you anything you did not already know. Quite disappointing in that regard. Maybe Jon Wright just wanted to steer clear of controversy and not upset his former paymasters, the behemoth that is the BCCI.

[Vikas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought and read this memoir by John Wright a long time ago like most of my books. Well this was a lovely read about John time as coach of Indian Cricket Team and he is one of the coaches who can honestly say that under them Indian Team improved and progressed.

People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[Mayank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice in Wonderland. The foreigner coach's experience in this cricket crazy nation is must read for all cricketing fans. The usually reserved looking coach has really opened out here on the progression of Indian cricket. He could have elaborated the briefly touched equation with team members here. The tension, the team building, the pep talks & the love-hate relationship between team members & their coach is missing here. But the equation with his support staff is brought out well here. Nevertheless, a very interesting read from the man who is usually considered a man of few words.

[Aravindh Sundaragopalan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just completed this book !. Very very well written. John wright can pass for a good author. Has a nack of being very blunt and too the point. I would really suggest anybody who follows indian cricket !
I read this book in a really fast pace.

[Nikhil Kadadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Insight into the Indian cricket team, it's selection processes and important events during John Wright's term as the Indian cricket team's coach. Good read for anyone interested in cricket especially Indian Cricket.

[Chirag Nahar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an apt viewpoint of a foreigner who adopted India as his home for some years to understand that one religion which unites the diversities of this nation. The man who redefined Indian cricket sums up his understanding of the Indian psyche quite brilliantly.

[Parth Bhagwat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was interesting and explained a lot on the steps and experiences in being a coach. Not only that but the book tells you what the planning and the pressure was for coaching/ playing for a really passionate country.

[Sanjeev Roy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just because I love cricket. I do wish John revealed a little more. He is so correct that it is a bit disappointing.

[Sanjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read for all Indian cricket fans.

[Sarath]

One of the best books about Indian Cricket and about the Best coach the India ever had

[Ashish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read up India's turn-around in cricket . Joh Wright helped in shaping up Golden decade of Indian cricket 2000s

[Rohit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Musings, memories and fond tales of India's first-ever foreign-origin cricket coach, an easily likeable read for a follower of the sport.