Coach them young

The RCA 8212; under the wunderkind of the BCCI itself, Lalit Modi 8212; has signed up Chappell to assist with its Centre of Excellence. We repeat the advisor8217;s name. Greg Chappell. The very same man who ruled himself out of extension as coach of India earlier this year, after every forward-looking decision of his was diluted by establishment. And yes, the very same person who, by the national narrative, refused to be awed by the reputation of senior members of the team. He would certainly be brimming with advice for Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he assumes the daunting responsibility of leading three former captains in the one-day team.

The channels of communication between new captain and former coach are not known. But savour the incongruity. The man who tried to rattle the team into innovative and new ways of playing will be making available his services to teenagers in Rajasthan. The team that proved to be beyond his counsel will be sallying forth into their toughest season 8212; in coming months they play Australia, Pakistan and then Australia again 8212; is so unnerved by the experience of having a coach with opinions that they have in effect turned off most potential successors from applying for the job. What a wonderfully topsy-turvy world.