India a fine team irrespective of who is coach: Thomson

Bengaluru, June 8 () Legendary Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson feels it does not matter whether a foreigner or an Indian is made head coach as the national team will continue to be a strong side in the international arena. "I don't want to get into the politics of appointment of India coach, whether it should be foreigner or India-origin because I have nothing to do with the Indian side. However, India will be a fine team irrespective of who is picked as the coach," he told reporters at the second season of KSCA-IDBI Federal Life Insurance Bowling Foundation here. Thomson said there was also a big debate in Australiaover the appointment of foreign coach, but he would not jointhe debate."Same thing (debate over foreign coach) happens inAustralia -- they hire somebody from overseas, triggering abig debate back in Australia. We all say 'what the hell isgoing on'. I don't know the politics behind this. I wouldn'tgo there," he said.Asked which other Indian bowlers apart from ShardulThakur he is impressed with, Thomson said he doesn't watchIndian Test bowlers unless they play in Australia or inpresence at the Bowling Foundation."I don't watch Indian Test bowlers, unless they play inAustralia and in my presence at the Bowling Foundation," hesaid."It is hard to be a Test player in India because of alarge population that results in big competition andtherefore, they have to do something special and that's whatwe are trying to do with the help of bowling foundation asours," he said.Praising Shardul, Thomson said the Mumbai pacer may havelost pace, but he bowled intelligently in right areas andlearnt variation."Shardul may have lost pace, but he has grown intelligentand bowling at right areas and learnt variation. When a fastbowler loses paces, he always bowls intelligently," Thomsonsaid."Shardul is good as anybody else. He has got all thetricks and all the ability," he said. BDN PDSPDS