NEW DELHI (Reuters)
The Indian cricket board will decide whether to extend the contract of coach John Wright when the home Test series against England finishes later this month.

Former New Zealand skipper Wright, and the team's Australian physio Andrew Leipus, met the Indian board chief Jagmohan Dalmiya on Saturday following his criticism of the team's poor away form and a series of injuries to key players.

The criticism has led to speculation whether the pair will be given fresh contracts after the Test series.

Dalmiya told Reuters on Saturday: "I have not decided anything. I will also meet the players in Bangalore and then decide. I don't want to disturb anything in between."

India are due to play the final match of their three-Test series against England in Bangalore starting on December 19.

Wright, appointed India's first foreign coach in October last year, has come under increasing pressure to retain his job after a number of poor away performances this year.

India, while formidable at home, were held 1-1 in a two-Test series in Zimbabwe and then lost a three-Test series 2-1 in Sri Lanka.

Last month, they lost 1-0 in South Africa, losing the first Test and drawing the second before losing the unofficial third match by an innings.

Dalmiya said Saturday's meeting was part of a wider investigation into the reasons for the team's inconsistency.

"I first met the selectors. This is step two. I want to interact with everyone concerned," he said.

Soon after becoming president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in September, Dalmiya sought written explanations from Wright and Leipus for the team's slide in form.

He also asked for better communication between them and the selectors.

Wright told Reuters after the meeting: "We held constructive discussions. It was business," adding that he expected the board to have made a decision on his contract by December 23.

Leipus, who took over in late 1999, has also been under pressure following a number of injuries in the last few months.

Leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar missed the Sri Lankan series in August-September because of a toe injury and Vangipurappu Laxman pulled out of the Tests because of a knee injury suffered during the one-day series.

Opener Sadagopan Ramesh has only just recovered from a back injury that ruled him out of the South African series, while left-arm pacemen Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan have also struggled with their fitness.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd