Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Just when we had begun despairing over the BCCI8217;s inability to learn from past mistakes, along comes an unexpected sign of hope. It8217;s just that we didn8217;t know where to look. We were so anxious for word from
Indian cricket8217;s top decision-making body 8212; word that in between setting up nebulous cricket leagues they may have been giving thought to the idea that perhaps the national team could do with the services of a coach. This is why Greg Chappell8217;s contract with the Rajasthan Cricket Association came as such a surprise. And such a reality check. Reform, it is clear, will come to cricket. But just as the states are now forcing the Centre to pursue economic reform, in sport too it is the federating units that will push the national body.
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.
