© CricInfo

It is unusual for someone to aspire to be a young tearaway pacer in Trinidad and wind up peddling his wares as a medium-pacer for Tamil Nadu for almost 20 years. It is unusual for someone to wait seven years between playing his second and third one-dayers. It is unusual for a batsman to begin his Test career by hitting the first ball of each innings for fours and yet never be considered again. Some people would even say that it is unusual to be the coach of your country's Under-19 side before you have retired from international cricket.

"No, not really. It's not that unusual, and coaching is not that new for me," Robin Singh, whose career has experienced all of the above ups and downs, told CricInfo. Appointed coach for the Indian Under-19 side's forthcoming tour of England, Robin was, as ever, low key - none of that bustling excitement, hype and hoopla for him.

"I've been doing work at the MAC Spin foundation here in Madras for over a year now. Also, with my club team SICAL, I've been trying to get as involved as possible," explains Robin. "When you've played first-class cricket for a long time, it always helps to talk to the younger members of the team about the game, pitch in with whatever extra you can, apart from what you do out in the middle."

At 38, Robin is still one of the fittest cricketers on the Indian scene, and that has been the case for years now. But that seems to have helped his cause little, for the Tamil Nadu all-rounder has now been out of favour with the selectors - and consequently out of the national team - since April 2001. But Robin is still a firm fixture on the domestic circuit, not having announced his retirement or even hinting at it.

"See, I did my share of coaching even when I played (club) cricket in England," said Robin. "I've played in the leagues there a few times. Obviously my own game was the biggest contribution, but I've also done my bit with the youngsters and in the nets, that sort of thing." Having played league cricket in Lancashire, Durham, Southampton and Scotland, Robin knows more than a little about the conditions that await the Indian youth.

With the Indian Under-19 team due to tour England in July-August to play three unofficial Tests and as many limited-overs matches, Robin's English experience will be a big asset. "I realise that coaching the Under-19 team is totally different from working with a club side," said Robin. "These are young cricketers working hard to break into higher levels in the near future. Obviously getting results also becomes that much more important. So as a coach you need to make doubly sure that you do your homework."

As the Indian senior side and the women's team are also playing cricket in England, it is only fitting that the boys are in the neighbourhood at the same time. "It will certainly be inspirational for the youngsters. After all, the boys look up to the senior team, and many of their heroes will be in action," said Robin.

From being a young hopeful himself at the San Fernando Technical Institute in Barrackpore, Trinidad, to coaching lads in India, it's been a long, winding road. Robin has had to play many different roles in his life so far, and he realises what his latest assignment entails. "Working with cricketers who are young means that you have to be more than just a coach," he said. "Most of these lads are inexperienced and will need inputs of different kinds. You really have to do a bit of thinking for them as well. From ironing out faults to strategy on the game, they need help on many counts."

Although he's clearly happy to be in his new role, Robin isn't ready to rush things. "Obviously I need to get to know the players better before I can start working with them in earnest," he said. "I need to learn something of their strengths and weaknesses before I can start telling them what to do and what not to do." In the past, coaches of youth teams have failed simply because of the huge gap between coach and wards. That, for sure, is not going to be the case here. Robin is well-liked wherever he goes, never says a word more than necessary, and knows how to deal with disappointment and success equally.

There were those who said that Robin was too old when he made his comeback at 33; they will no doubt be quick to say that he is too young to coach at 38. As they were comprehensively proven wrong the first time round, there is no reason why this time should be any different.

© CricInfo