Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Australian McDermott applies for India coach job

Former Australia fast bowler Craig McDermott has applied for the post of India head coach, which will become vacant after the ongoing Champions Trophy campaign.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) advertised the post last month, while maintaining that incumbent Anil Kumble would be considered for a contract extension after the team recorded just one defeat in 17 tests since he took over in June last year.


McDermott, who played 71 tests for Australia between 1984 and 1996 and was his country's full-time bowling coach from the 2013-14 Ashes series to last year's World T20, said he had submitted an application.

"I have had aspirations for a while to be a head coach," he told www.sportstarlive.com.

"I was away from cricket coaching for a year, and now, I want to come back to it. I have also enjoyed my time in India, and it would be nice to serve Indian cricket."

According to media reports, his former team mate Tom Moody, former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus, ex-India opener Virender Sehwag and coach of the 2007 World T20 winning Indian team Lalchand Rajput have also applied for the job.

Managing an Indian dressing room full of egos and diverse personalities is a Herculean task and former captain Kumble's impressive record will be difficult to ignore.

The BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee, which will make the decision, comprises his former team mates Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

Reports of Kumble's differences with Virat Kohli would give the other candidates grounds for optimism, even if the influential India captain has denied any "rift" with the coach.

More For You

Communal  dining

Communal tables make a comeback among Gen Z

iStock

Communal tables are back – and Gen Z is leading the way

Highlights:

  • Communal dining tables are becoming popular again, especially among Gen Z.
  • Surveys show younger diners enjoy meeting strangers, while many older diners prefer privacy.
  • Shared tables help tackle loneliness and encourage real-life conversation in a digital age.
  • Restaurants are adapting with supper clubs, shared platters and “come alone” nights.
  • The trend reflects a wider shift toward connection, experience and affordable social dining.

Walk into a place to eat and there is just one huge table. Everyone there is a stranger, talking, laughing, passing bowls around like they already know each other. For some older diners, the setup feels odd. It can come across as too open, almost like someone stepping into your personal space. But younger diners see it differently. For Gen Z, that setup is the fun part, the chance that the person next to you might turn into a friend, or at least a good conversation.

A 2025 Resy survey shows a clear generational split: 90% of Gen Z enjoy communal tables, compared with 60% of Baby Boomers. Beyond numbers, the social benefits are real; making friends, striking up conversations, even finding a date. For a generation often described as “the loneliest,” dining together offers a rare sense of connection.

Keep ReadingShow less