Premium
This is an archive article published on September 17, 2005

Coach has seen it all before

Greg Chappell took over the reins of the Indian cricket team with a clear agenda: Improve till you are the best. The results may not have be...

.

Greg Chappell took over the reins of the Indian cricket team with a clear agenda: Improve till you are the best. The results may not have been encouraging so far but an assignment that culminates in the 2007 World Cup need not look at short-term blips.

And that the Aussie great lacks nothing in the art of diplomacy was evident in the way he handled the media in Bulawayo Friday. Having woven through Australian cricket8217;s infamous authoritarian bylanes, he has gained insight into its many masquerades: Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh.

Even skin-deep acknowledgement of this will show that Greg isn8217;t exactly a person who would instinctively order the country8217;s most successful skipper to make way for Mohammed Kaif,that too ahead of a Test which India would have walked through anyway.

Before it all blows away as a mere suggestion of 8220;team composition8221;, a quick look at some probabilities:

Before Chappell joined the Indian team as coach, he had already heard of John Wright8217;s plight at the hands of 8220;some senior Indian players8221;. Sourav Ganguly was not among the three responsible.

Would it be natural for a new coach to want to kill any anti-matter that grows out of the woodwork as early as possible?

In the last tri-series, Sourav played under Dravid8217;s captaincy. What if India had won that series? What if Sourav had stepped down before Bulawayo and India won? What if Sourav hadn8217;t scored a century?

Story continues below this ad

Sourav, when contacted today, said: 8216;8216;It is difficult to talk about the 8216;right8217; or 8216;wrong8217; track for an event that is one and-a-half years hence. I would not even want to comment on the two home series because that is a very long time in cricket.8217;8217;

Hence, when Greg wants to see the big picture that incorporates the World Cup, he should have the right to experiment. Remember, this is Chappell8217;s first-ever national coaching assignment. His breakfast was a trifle indigestible. That8217;s about it.

 

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Loading Taboola...
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement