Chairman changes sitting arrangement

Viru demotion, call for bowling coach points to selectors8217; mood

When Dilip Vengsarkar said that 8220;nobody in the team can take his position for granted,8221; it wasn8217;t just a message for Virender Sehwag , who lost the vice-captaincy to VVS Laxman today. It is also being seen as a word of caution for the rest who are responsible for India8217;s dismal show in South Africa, including members of the team management.

With Sehwag losing his special status makes the out-of-form opener8217;s position in the playing XI fragile while Vengsarkar8217;s vehement call for a bowling coach points at the inadequacies of the present coaching staff.

From the two press conferences that the new chairman of selectors has addressed, it is clear that he isn8217;t the one to beat around the bush and, when he wants to emphasis a point, he starts the answer with a very affirmative 8220;absolutely.8221;

Today at the Kotla he uttered the word twice 8212; once when he was asked if Laxman getting the vice-captaincy was a way of sending a 8220;pull-up-your-socks8221; message across to Sehwag and, two, when he was asked if the young Indian pacers needed a bowling coach.

Sources say that there was a consensus on Sehwag8217;s demotion since the selectors didn8217;t want a situation like the one at Port Elizabeth where the out-of-form vice-captain became the captain by default after Dravid8217;s injury. 8220;It is a bit embarrassing to drop the vice-captain of the team,8221; said a selector on condition of anonymity.

Another pressing problem that the selectors discussed during their interaction with BCCI president Sharad Pawar was the inconsistent performance of our bowlers. 8220;When our bowlers let the opposition make 274 after reducing them to 76/6 and concede over 100 in the last 10 overs there is certainly something terribly wrong,8221; said a selector. And as Vengsarkar confirmed, 8220;I have told Mr Pawar about it. Who it will be, I don8217;t know. But we certainly need one. It8217;s for the Board to decide.8221;

This has put the BCCI in a spot since coach Greg Chappell has repeatedly insisted that the team doesn8217;t need a bowling coach since his assistant Ian Frazer was doing the same job. And this was evident from BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah8217;s reaction to Vengsarkar8217;s demand. 8220;It is their way of thinking but the technical committee will have to discuss the matter,8221; he said.

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And not to leave the coach out of the loop he added, 8220;We also have to talk to the coach and the team management about the issue. All these things can8217;t happen fast, it will take time. Don8217;t expect a bowling coach for the South African series,8221; he said.

VVS Laxman8217;s inclusion in the one-day side and Sourav Ganguly8217;s recall for Tests is being seen as subtle shift in the power center of India cricket. The Vengsarkar-headed selection committee is calling the shots while team management hasn8217;t been able to have its way. But on the issue of a bowling coach, the BCCI is weighing the odds to keep all the decision-makers happy.