Stuart Law, a veteran of Australian and international cricket, has taken on the challenge of coaching Nepal, a team whose captivating rise has yet to secure it a place in the sport’s mainstream. Having played over 50 times for Australia and coached Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the West Indies, Law’s career is the epitome of top-tier cricket.
His interest in Nepal was first piqued while coaching the United States, when 7,500 passionate Nepali fans attended a match in Dallas. While their following is the envy of many Test-playing nations, it was the raw talent of the players that ultimately convinced Law to take the job when it became available.
Law’s first assignment served as a stark introduction to Nepal’s thrilling brand of cricket. In a limited-overs series against Scotland and the Netherlands—two standard-bearers for Associate nations—his team engaged in a series of nail-biting contests. They won one match with a ball to spare, lost another off the final ball, secured three more victories in the last over, and lost a T20I to the Netherlands only after a third Super Over.
These heart-stopping finishes have earned the team the nickname “The Cardiac Kids” for consistently putting their supporters through an emotional rollercoaster. “My God, yeah,” Law acknowledged ahead of a T20I series in Sharjah. “After that tour, I said, ‘Boys, we need to get rid of this tag. It’s no good.’ And they just laugh. I say, ‘Boys, it’s not funny.’”
Law is now working to instill a sense of composure, encouraging his players to remain emotionally balanced during games. “I would rather win easily than put yourself through the potential cardiac arrest,” he explained. “When we’re doing well, you can hear them get up… if we lose a couple of wickets, there is no noise. We’ve got to stay even. When we do that, we make very good decisions and play a brilliant brand of cricket.”
This new brand of cricket will be tailored to the team’s strengths. Law recognises that Nepal’s players cannot replicate the power-hitting game of teams like the West Indies. “Everyone’s talking about the power game… Some teams can’t do that,” he said, drawing on his experience with Bangladesh. “We’re not 110kg, 6ft 8in beasts. So we’ve got to find a different way to play.”
Instead of focusing on brute force, Law is promoting a style built on technique and timing, citing Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene as a model. “He’s 5ft 6in, he’s not a gym junkie, not a muscle-bound giant, but he hit the ball just as far as anyone,” Law noted. “He did it through beautiful technique and timing… Your best players find a way. They don’t need to try to hit every ball for six.”
While confident ahead of facing the West Indies, Law’s immediate priority is the upcoming T20 World Cup Qualifier in Oman, where Nepal will compete for a spot in next year’s main event. Looking further ahead, both the players and administration share the ambition of becoming a Test-playing nation.
Law also holds personal long-term goals, expressing a desire to one day coach his home country. “I’d love to go back and coach Australia,” the 56-year-old said, whether as a head coach or an assistant in the men’s, women’s, or Under-19 programs.
For now, however, his focus remains entirely on Nepal and helping the emerging nation achieve its aspirations. “Cricket’s given me a lot,” he said, “and now it’s my turn to give something a little bit back to the game.”
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