PakPassion Presents an exclusive interview with former Pakistani coach Julien Fountain. Fountain has done a phenomenal job with the team over the years and has really transformed the side into a much better fielding side. Catches are being caught and direct hits and hitting the targer thanks to this man.
By Haroon Khan (21st February 2010)
Many thanks to former Pakistan fielding coach Julien Fountain for taking time out to answer questions for PakPassion members.
PakPassion.Net
Where are you currently located? What are your current assignments? Did you see Pakistani player?s pathetic fielding display in Australia? Do you think if given this impossible task of improving their fielding, you can deliver? Do you have any specific plans for delivering, can you please explain those plans or your strategy for fielding improvement if given the opportunity.
Julien Fountain
Am at present based in the UK, and am working on a number of exciting cricket projects. I did not see the games, but I have read the reports and articles which followed. The only way to reduce the possibility of this happening again is to have a multi pronged plan; the senior team need assistance on a regular basis. They, and all the players who may get selected need to have their fielding assessed and individual training plans assigned. The coaching system in Pakistan needs to have its fielding aspect reviewed and possibly updated to bring it into line with current methods and standards. One way to do this is as has been suggested, a series of educational training camps for Elite Players, Coaches and Youth Players. If Pakistan are to perform well in the upcoming T20 World Cup, some standards and goals need to be set, and "Individual & In Depth" training programs need to be followed. Beware of people offering quick fixes, this needs to be done properly by someone with the appropriate skills, qualifications and knowledge!
PakPassion.Net
Interestingly you have been a baseball coach. Seeing as baseballers wear gloves, it leads me to believe that catching requires a certain technique? - Kamran has proved that gloves or not, we will drop simple catches.
Julien Fountain
You are correct in your assumption that catching requires technique, but then again every skill we execute in every sport has a "Correct or Best Technique". These techniques can be broken down in such a way that you can see the reason each aspect of it is important. Having a correct technique for catching is one aspect, but you must not forget the importance of Concentration, Vision, Tactics, and how these are affected by fatigue, dehydration, nerves, pressure etc
PakPassion.Net
Julien, fielding is as much about attitude as it is fitness and skill.
How do you go about changing the mindset of a set of players who may have the ability to field well but for some reason lack the will?
Julien Fountain
You have definitely hit the nail on the head! Firstly it?s important to ascertain if the players actually can execute the skills to the standards required. Then it?s a question of changing a player or team?s mindset toward fielding. How this is done will vary depending upon the team or players motivations. When push comes to shove a good fielding side wins more games than it loses, so if you want less pressure as a batter or bowler, field well! Set really high standards and you will achieve high performance, accept poor standards and you will get poor performance.
PakPassion.Net
How much do these training programmes influence the players? In other words, yes they become physically fit but, what about those mental aspects?
Shouldn't fielding be simple ? see ball, get in position and catch.
Julien Fountain
Yes, fielding should be simple, but break it down and you will see that there is a lot more to it. (When I said "Training Programs" I was referring to Skill Training, not Fitness Training). From a physical aspect, it is similar to bowling, and if you look at how bowling is assessed and broken down you will find that every single part of the action can be assessed, diagnosed and improved. This is the same for fielding! From a skill choice aspect, fielding is like batting, as you have a wide selection of shots you can play as a batter you have a wide variety of skills that you can execute as a fielder. All these skills have tactical and technical aspects which need to be learnt and perfected. Yes fielding is catch ball, throw ball, stop ball; but then using that framework batting is just Hit ball and bowling is just Bowl ball!
PakPassion.Net
Which player or team have you made significant changes to?
Julien Fountain
Every team I work for benefits from having someone who takes the time to address the individual aspects of their fielding game. Notable moments have been:
- 1998 West Indies in South Africa
- 1999 West Indies vs. Australia
- 2000 West Indies in Australia
- 2001 West Indies vs. South Africa
- 2001 Pakistan ?A? in Sri Lanka
- 2006 Pakistan in England
- 2007 West Indies in England
- 2007 England U16 vs Australia U16 in England
- 2008 Stanford Super Series
- 2009 World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa with Ireland
- 2009 Ireland vs. England ODI
PakPassion.Net
Pakistan has had many International specialist coaches, most famous of them all Jonty Rhodes and they have not managed to make significant changes. Many people are saying this problem is at grass roots level i.e. domestic level. Surely if domestic cricket cannot solve their fielding issues the current Pakistan team or emerging problems will carry on with the same trend. What do you propose that would be different to the coaches we have previously used?
Julien Fountain
Unless I am mistaken, Jonty was only involved for a couple of weeks, working with the senior team. You cannot expect to change an entire culture in a couple of weeks! This needs a long term change in attitude towards fielding and the coaching of fielding. Set out a new standard for fielding both at grass roots and all the way up the ladder to the elite teams. Facilitate local coaches with the knowledge and allow them to disseminate this to young players across the region. Couple this with specific targets at the top end of the game and hopefully over the next 3-5 years this process will ensure that all Pakistani cricketers know what is expected of them at national, regional and even local level. Coach Education is vital in this chain of events.
PakPassion.Net
I believe especially with from the sub-continent simplicity is the way forward.
Once the technical and tactical aspects are bought into fielding, I am sure it waivers the players somewhat.
Who are the stand-out fielders in the current Pakistan team?
Julien Fountain
Why do you think that? If a player is able to understand how a slight technical or tactical adjustment to their batting or bowling causes improvement, why should fielding be any different! Unless you perceive fielding to be a lesser skill than batting or bowling, in which case it?s your attitude to fielding's importance within cricket, not your ability to comprehend technical adjustments which is the problem. In most cases cricketers are simply not aware of "Best Practice" in each skill, so it?s simply a case of updating a player?s knowledge base! As for current fielders, I have not watched the recent series, so cannot make any judgements. When I worked with the team in 2006, Umar Gul was a player who really put in the effort and reaped the rewards.
PakPassion.Net
How long do you think it would take to turn a poor fielding side like Pakistan into a good fielding side?
Julien Fountain
Well, taking into account I have been working as a specialist in fielding since 1996, I can honestly say that given the appropriate amount of time working with the senior team, you will see an improvement in a few weeks; unfortunately, for a long term fix you have to address all the aspects I have mentioned in other posts i.e. Coach Education, National Team Standards, Regional & Local Team standards. For young Pakistani boys to want to field well, they have to see that to play for the Pakistan senior team only the very best fielders get selected. Once you allow senior players to coast and write their own agendas (with regard to fielding) you face an uphill struggle as they portray the image that fielding is not important. Pakistan has the Batting and Bowling talent to be the best team in the world. They now need to set the goal of being the best fielding team in the world, and then stick to the plan!
PakPassion.Net
Fielding is an important skill in the game and as we saw in both the series Pakistan has just played. I agree that technical adjustments made across aspects of the game only improve one's game but, Pakistan cricket at the moment is too engrossed with their batting issues. I just hope the same importance could have been placed on fielding as well.
Younis Khan is a reputable slip catch fielder; Afridi has pulled off stunning catches and Shoaib Malik all spring to mind. But, as Afridi has mentioned in his interview it has got to do with the attitude to fielding as well.
Julien Fountain
Luckily, fielding is the easiest of the three skills to improve at. I have found that the confidence gained by improving in one aspect of your game, feeds into other aspects and helps those improve. A confidence boost and attitude adjustment usually affects the players overall game in a very positive way. Afridi is correct when he say Attitude is important, but you can only lead a horse to water . . . (however holding his nose underwater for a while may induce drinking!)
PakPassion.Net
Younis Khan drops a simple catch in the Champions Trophy - a catch he would have taken with his eyes closed in practice
What makes this different? Is it not the mental aspect? How do you fix that as a coach?
Julien Fountain
As a coach all you can do is make sure the player has learnt the correct technique for that particular type of catch, make sure the player has practised it enough, make sure the player has practised it under the pressure of competition, ensure the player has had as much help as possible with goal setting and skill execution process; but once they step out over the rope its really up to them. Pressure does the funniest of things to people. Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate, & execute the simple skills well (it?s a clich? but its true)
PakPassion.Net
Are Pakistan?s fielding woes as a result of a poor quality of coaching at grass-roots level and once players reach International level they are brutally found lacking in basic fielding skills? And if so, what can be done to resurrect this?
Julien Fountain
The simple answer is:
You have to raise the standards and expectations from grass roots all the way up to the national side. The young cricketers playing in Pakistan will only be as good as the coaching they get coupled with the aspiration to be like the players in the senior team. If the senior players portray a poor standard of fielding, then this is where the "Bar" is set as acceptable. If the senior team members set a high standard, it will be taken as the normal for being in that team. Look at teams like Australia, South Africa and even England to an extent; if you don?t cut it in the fielding dept you don?t get picked, end of story! The days of picking an outstanding batter, even though he cannot field are long gone, because his contribution within the fielding department will help to offset any poor performances with the bat. Today?s game dictates that a player has to contribute in ALL depts. National Fielding program for players and coaches coupled with a period of intense coaching at senior level is really the only way forward. Standards need to be set (with no exceptions!!!)
PakPassion.Net
My observation is that Pakistan has been faring poorly in both basic catching and ground fielding, which is unacceptable. Considering ground fielding, it?s understandable that most Pakistani players will not be good at it because they are not used to diving & sliding around. Even those who know how to throw their body around, usually end up mistiming the dive. But not having basic fielding skills is just mindboggling. If you observe the recent Test series against Aus/NZ, most of the catches dropped have been very straight forward.
In my view, it may be hard for an aging cricketer to suddenly start throwing his body around. Even if he tries his best, he may never become a really good ground fielder. But anyone (whether young or old) can be taught basic fielding skills.
Yes with time ground fielding can be improved, but basic catching skills need to be concentrated more in the beginning.
Julien Fountain
Standards can only be raised by improving the player?s technical and tactical ability. Grass roots cricket needs to get the help to raise its standards too. To be honest, even the oldest players can still learn the basics of elite fielding (especially where different skills will assist an ageing player i.e. dive instead of chasing the ball 60 metres!)
They are all capable of improvement, but the NEW STANDARDS need to be set out and everybody made accountable. No more senior player?s don?t do this or don?t do that. One in ALL in it?s a team effort after all!
Julien Fountain
In case you guys are interested, I have a website: www.catcheswinmatches.co.uk
PakPassion.Net
Being a fielding coach is it your job only to train guys, or are you also a fielding strategist i.e. things like determining what fielding places are best suited for a player, assisting captain in devising fielding plans for the innings (and also against specific batsmen) etc.
Another thing which I have always noted with Pakistan team is close-in field placement. Most of the Pakistani fielders are on the edge of the 30 yard circle. Usually the opposition batsmen just dab the bowl here and there are run for an easy single. Had they been just 2-3 steps inside the circle, the batsmen would have enough hesitation to go for such a single. Also being more close-in they would be covering more angles. Wouldn?t it be a good ploy?
Julien Fountain
Part of being a "Proper" Fielding Coach is to provide Ball by ball analysis of the game from a fielding perspective for tactical purposes. (Not simply a glorified cheerleader, getting your face on TV to promote your own career!) What this means is that you are able to get a clear indication of who is performing what skill, where and with what result. This data can then be used in a tactical scenario i.e. you have certain bowlers who need certain fielders in certain positions and at certain angles or distances because a particular batter is strong or weak in that area. By having a clear indication of your player?s ability, you can then set tactical traps for batters by placing key personnel in key areas because they perform certain skills better than others. The basis to all of this is you need to know your players abilities.
PakPassion.Net
My question is more along the lines of attitude towards fielding. It seems the best fielders of our era, people like Jonty Rhodes and Herschelle Gibbs, loved being on the field. You could just sense that they were eagerly waiting for a chance to come their way or to make something happen out of half-chances. They just showed an overall exuberance in the field that would lift everybody.
How do you coach somebody to enjoy their fielding? With our guys it seems like they think of it as a chore, like their mum's asked them to clean their room or something. You're never going to be good at something if you don't enjoy it. How do you fix this?
Julien Fountain
It?s tough but a bit of carrot and stick really. You can create league tables showing who has the best average, who is hitting the stumps most, and who is making the most mistakes, etc. These guys are competitive by nature and love to be challenged. It?s a question of creating a new atmosphere and new approach to it. Change has to come from everyone seniors and juniors alike.
I have not worked with any team, who have not risen to the challenge, as they are sportsmen and competitive by nature.
PakPassion.Net
What was specifically your best and most satisfying contribution to Pakistan during your various stints coaching Pak? Equally what was the most disappointing aspect?
Julien Fountain
I enjoyed my stints with the team but I would like to mention a number of things specifically:
- Working with the A Team in Sri Lanka in 2001 under Mudasser Nazar was a great job, those kids have really gone on (Danish K, Salman B, Yassir A, etc)
- Helping Bob Woolmer in 2006 was an honour. Inzi and the guys were fantastic and most of them worked really hard, credit especially to Umar Gul and Younis for their lead by example attitude.
- I also was really honoured (and surprised) when Inzi asked me to help out with his batting. I have always prided myself as being a proper all round cricket coach as well as a specialist, so I jumped at the chance to help one of the worlds best with his batting. It proved to me, if not anyone else that I add value to a team in ALL depts not just fielding.
- Another special moment was in 2006 when Mohammed Sami was really struggling with his bowling (The Pakistan dressing room can be a very lonely place if you are struggling); so I took him to one side, and we worked on the psychology behind fast bowling (as well as some technical aspects as well) including motivation and goal setting. We even had a motivational piece of music which he listened to before going out to play. I actually got told off by ICC Anti Corruption, because they thought I was trying to make match fixing phone calls, when actually we were listening to the music on my phone!!!
Most disappointing was a very small hard core didn?t like fielding, because they were not very good at it, so tended to shy away from practice; this was detrimental to future development as is being witnessed now!
PakPassion.Net
Our captain believes that a fielding coach makes no difference as they can't do anymore than they already are. Do you agree or is he just lazy?
Julien Fountain
I believe that a captain must lead by example, just like Younis does. If a player or team struggles in a particular department, then it needs fixing. Burying your head in the sand only leads people to question your professional integrity. Meet the challenge head on and embrace it with open arms! He who fears knowledge and assistance builds their empire on a foundation of sand!
PakPassion.Net
Why do the likes of England, South Africa and Australia thrive on fielding, and give it much importance but, teams like India, Pakistan and West Indies have this lazy attitude?
Why do the likes of England, South Africa and Australia thrive on fielding, and give it much importance but, teams like India, Pakistan and West Indies have this lazy attitude?
Other than the popular fielders in the game today e.g. Gibbs, AB De Villiers, Broad, Clarke and Ponting.....who else stands out as one the best fielders in the game today?
Julien Fountain
The game is evolving quickly; when I started coaching in 1996 you could call a handful of elite fielders all round the world. Now most international teams have 3 or 4 guys who are elite or more. (I hope I have managed to contribute to this in a small way!) It is harder to call names as the standards have risen!
PakPassion.Net
Has Jonty made fielding popular and made your job harder?
Has Jonty made fielding popular and made your job harder?
Julien Fountain
Guys like Jonty, Herschell, AB, Clarke, Symonds, Collingwood etc make my job easier, as people can now see the techniques I have been pushing for years, being used daily at the highest level. (Unfortunately that does not always relate into contracts for me! Cricketers seem to like gimmicks and gimmicky people, not always cold hard truth!)
PakPassion.Net
What would you like to see at grass roots, youth and at the first class level in terms of fielding training, so that when players move up to international level they are better prepared?
Julien Fountain
I have mentioned in previous posts, and I maintain, that the only way to create an elite fielding senior team is to address it from both ends of the spectrum, and from all angles; the senior team has to have its culture and approach shaken up and brought into line with cricket in today?s world. Each of the players, i hope, has an ongoing program of development in their primary skills, so why not add fielding to that process.
And at the other end of the spectrum, Youth players and youth coaches need to have exposure to the techniques, tactics etc employed by the worlds best. To give you an example from outside of cricket; in the USA a 12 year old baseball player will do similar drills and practices to a major league ball player. He will simply do them a little slower and over shorter distances with less velocity; but in essence they are the same, so when the kid moves up the ladder, he is not overwhelmed by the pace or difficulty of a practice as he has been doing them all his life.
So elite players and youth players alike need to know what standards are required of them.
PakPassion.Net
To be a half decent fielder, surely you need to be a pretty fit individual.
We all know what the diets of Pak players are like - how do you counter these obstacle?
Julien Fountain
To be an international cricketer you should be fit, healthy, strong, fast, flexible, professional, dedicated and skillful. If Pakistan players do not tick all of the above, then it is down to the selection process being at fault, as it is allowing players with only parts of the profile to make it through to the top team. My experience of professional baseball tryouts in the US showed a ruthless attention to detail where the players had to demonstrate they were elite in what they call the 5 fundamentals; however due to numbers of players, the first test was a sprint test over 40 metres. if you didn?t run it in the appropriate time, you didn?t get to throw or hit a ball ! Like I said ruthless, but effective as it means everybody was of a high standard to start with. In cricket we seem to take kids who can play cricket well and try to make them into athletes. Instead of making the athleticism mandatory to start with!
PakPassion.Net
But, the boxes you wanted ticked from our players e.g. healthy, strong, fast, flexible, professional, dedicated and skilful (sounds like the words to describe a marathon runner and not a cricketer).
Julien Fountain
Well there's your problem ... You think marathon runner, I think elite cricketer (sportsman / athlete). Cricket has been stuck in the sporting dark ages for so long. It really depends on how professional you (the Pakistan Cricket supporting public) want your players to be; don?t complain because they are slow and cumbersome, cannot bowl straight, bat poorly and make mistakes or drop catches; but still make excuses about diet, fitness, culture, attitude etc. Either you buy into the elite athlete mentality (as the world leaders like Australia, South Africa etc have done, or just take the poor performance when it comes (and it will come regularly) without complaint. Buy in or forever seal your cricket destiny!
PakPassion.Net
In your opinion what is the role of technology in fielding? Are you a fan of doing analysis using laptops, etc or are your methods strictly old school?
Julien Fountain
Technology should be utilised wherever possible; i am currently trying to get my own fielding software put together (It is still in old school format pen and paper which makes it hard to process).
Digital footage linked to computer stats make the process easy to understand and easy to use.
PakPassion.Net
Last year Gary Kirsten had proposed your name to BCCI as a fielding coach (if I am correct). Has BCCI approached you in this aspect and any chance of coaching the Indian side in the future?
Julien Fountain
Unfortunately Gary did not propose me, it was press speculation; and last year exactly the same! The BCCI have not been in touch, despite some direct contact on my part. They hired another fielding coach briefly before Christmas; who knows what gets said at these meetings! Inshallah, the true professional will be recognised and rewarded, and the PR & Media hounds will get their just rewards!
