Ex-leggie Hirwani wants Team India armed with spin bowling coach

Narendra Hirwani

Former India leg-spinner and national selector Narendra Hirwani feels it's high time the national team added a spin bowling coach to its entourage.

"A medium pace bowling coach just cannot teach the finer points of spin bowling. You need to have special experience to make it happen," said Hirwani, who despite being involved with coaching, clarified that he is in no way suggesting that he should be considered for the job.

"There is Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Maninder Singh, Anil Kumble. Any reputed ex-spinner for that matter can be appointed. If BCCI can appoint throw down specialists, more than one physiotherapist, then why not a spin bowling coach?" asked Hirwani, who claimed a record 16 wickets on Test debut against the West Indies at Chennai in 1988.

It is learnt that out of favour spinners like Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and others are in touch with him.

Hirwani was in the India squad when current head coach Rahul Dravid undertook his first Test tour - England in 1996.