IPL success with a tartan touch

Published on 20/06/2012 00:00

They’re still dancing in the streets of Kolkata. All hail the Indian city’s Knight Riders! And, intriguingly, their much vaunted success in the recent Indian Premier League final has a Scottish flavour.

Praise has been heaped on the contribution of the KKR team psychologist for turning around a defeatist culture after four bitter years of underachievement and engendering a fresh winning mentality.

He is none other than Dr Rudi Webster, Barbados-born ex-Edinburgh University medical student, who made seven appearances as a fast-medium opening bowler for Scotland back in the 60s, taking 11 for 100 against MCC at Glenpark, including seven clean bowled, and three of the other four caught at slip by future England captain Mike Denness.

KKR head coach Trevor Bayliss also has a distinctive Scottish pedigree, having been a pro at West of Scotland in 1989 and 1990. And star man and top scorer for unlucky runners-up Chennai Super Kings was Australia’s Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey, Ferguslie pro in 1998, whilst also featuring was West’s pro at Hamilton Crescent in 2005, Subramanian Badinath.