(REUTERS) – Stuart Law needs to form a stable relationship with the senior figures in Bangladesh cricket in order to push the team up the world rankings, the new coach said yesterday. “If I can have a great relationship with the selectors, the captain and the board then I am sure we can have consistent things happening,” the Australian told reporters.
“It’s been proved the most stable relationship at the top generally provides the best environment for the players to play better cricket.”
Former batsman Law, who has signed a two-year deal to replace fellow countryman Jamie Siddons, said he was relishing the task of hauling Bangladesh off ninth and last place in the world Test rankings.
“I think when you have a new coach or a change of management it is always a challenge,” he said. “The challenge is to put names into faces for the first couple of weeks.
“Once we get into that the next challenge for us is to make Bangladesh the team they think they should be. It’s not about what I think they should be but what they expect from themselves.
“If they think they should be up to fifth, sixth or seventh in the world I think that is where we should aim at,” said the 42-year-old Law who has been coaching Sri Lanka on an interim basis without being offered a permanent deal.
Siddons’ contract was not renewed after Bangladesh failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the 50-over World Cup earlier this year.
Bangladesh, who hosted the World Cup with India and Sri Lanka, beat Ireland, England and Netherlands in the group stage but missed out on a place in the last eight on run-rate.
“We want to have consistency and stability and that is what we strive for,” said Law who played in one Test and 54 one-day internationals for his country.
“The main reason why you are not consistent is because you are not sure of your role in the team.
“Knowing the passion Bangladeshi people have for cricket I saw it as a great opportunity for me. I am still very young as a coach and it is a great opportunity to learn with some of the most talented cricketers on the planet.
“Hopefully the knowledge I have gained in first-class cricket I can impart to the players so they can become as good as they can,” added Law who will lead the team in next month’s five-match series of one-dayers in Zimbabwe.