The "Mentor" role in League Cricket

[MenInG]

Can some enlightened individual please explain the reason for these people?

PSL has Sir Viv and a few others - IPL has its own versions - Shane Warne etc

Seems like a good gig to have a nice time and earn some $$$ - to look emotional about your team when the camera points at you - but apart from that what exactly are these people doing in Leagues?

 

[MenInG]

So here is a statement that Warne wrote himself (of course) after being appointed at Rajasthan Royals as the team's brand ambassador and mentor.


“On my dual role, it's always a great feeling to be back with Royals, my team, my family. It's exciting to be working across all elements of this franchise that I love. We have worked towards our vision of becoming a global team that fans around the world love and follow. This season I am looking forward to working as a Team Mentor and joining up with an excellent backroom staff in Zubin Bharucha and Andrew McDonald. Hopefully, we can have a successful season and achieve big things in the coming months"

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...e-mentor-brand-ambassador/article32593135.ece

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Marketing and credibility - gives the franchise some star power and visibility to the league itself as well. I won’t say it’s useful to the youngsters because it isn’t. At the end of the day, it makes Gladiators a likable team, boosts the egos of Pakistanis and Indians, and makes a random viewer across the world more likely to tune in. I am sure there are West Indian cricket enthusiasts who tune in to Quetta games because Viv is there. There are many Pakistanis including myself who will definitely watch a few Lanka Premier League games for the Afridi factor. The league otherwise holds zero interest to me. Of course, a positive reputation and generation of interest equates to a lot of money in this day and age.

The team of course doesn’t really perform much better. In fact, non-cricketers like SRK perform much the same role for teams like the Kolkata Knight Riders. Still, it’s always nice to have one of the greatest persons of the game give you a pep talk after a mistimed slog. Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal are truly lucky individuals.

 

[Titan24]

Mainly helps with overall packaging of the league and the franchise. As bonus can be decent for youngsters as well to share the dressing rooms with players they look upto, even if they dont tell them a lot of technical things still bit of talk can up help their confidence.

 

[Saj]

Easy money for these big names.

I asked a former player who is a mentor these days, what were his responsibilities.

His response "smile a lot and look busy".

 

[shaz619]

Easy money for these big names.

I asked a former player who is a mentor these days, what were his responsibilities.

His response "smile a lot and look busy".

To be honest, as far as asian 'mentor's' are concerned, I'd say that is entirely true specially Pakistani ones. The job is primarily to look the part and eat samosas.

If you're are a English or Australian mentor, you're probably a very reputed cricketer as far as your cricketing legacy is concerned and accomplishments, you're going to want to boost team morale and help on the mental side / provide small tweaks with regards to technicalities which don't take away from what you already have.

I think Shane gave a glimpse of what he has to offer during the recent Eng/Pak series with just his basic view on spin bowling / tactics which were incredibly insightful, now if you're a young spinner or any individual who wants a bit of advice in terms of anything they are struggling with, man why wouldn't you take advantage of that support ? that's a gold mine right there, but agreed not everyone will be as passionate as Shane, it comes down to the culture; Australian and English culture is not lazy and a lot more compassionate.

 

[Major]

Marketing, its good for the league and teams.

Viv Richards has respect in Pakistan. People like the idea that a guy of his stature comes to Pakistan

Hashim Amla was every Pakistani's love. It attracts more people towards your team. People will get the idea, Yar woh Hashim Amla aya wah hai na, usnay sekhayaa hoga yaye shot.

A Mentor is like a Brand Ambassador. Does nothing, but his name being attached your brand makes you look better

 

[BreadPakoda]

Totally depends on how sincere the mentor is. If Warne is sincere, he can help players on the mental aspect of the game. If he’s there for show only then he much rather stay as far away from the players as possible.

I’ve had some management appointed “mentors” in corporate life who’ve done more harm than good. Looking back I was better off without their “mentorship”.