His year in office

His only comfortable Test series wins were against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, both struggling to improve their rankings on the ICC chart. With talk of World Cup 2007 featuring in almost all of Chappell8217;s conversations, the big question is whether the Aussie8217;s focus is one-dimensional.

Says former Indian coach Ajit Wadekar, 8216;8216;Basically, the importance has shifted to one-day cricket and Test cricket remains neglected. Every other day talk of World Cup takes centrestage, so in this atmosphere, Test cricket becomes a casualty.8217;8217;

Wadekar also blames certain strategical errors for the Test debacle. 8216;8216;In Tests, they are placing right people in wrong fielding positions resulting in a number of dropped catches. For instance, Yuvraj Singh, in the Mumbai Test against England, was placed in close-in positions, while he is good at the cover and point regions,8217;8217; he says.

The silver lining, though, is the emergence of fast bowlers. Though India still lacks tearaway pacers, a pre-requisite in Tests, the considerable crowd in the bench could help India overcome the deficit. 8220;The bench strength is improving, we just need to be patient with them. Once they gain experience, it will help India in the long run,8217;8217; says Wadekar.

BEYOND THE SUB-CONTINENT?

Besides, over the last one year, India has not had a major assignment outside the sub-continent except the Zimbabwe tour. India lost the only one-day tournament they played outside the sub-continent8212;the tri-series also featuring New Zealand and Zimbabwe, early in Chappell8217;s tenure. Now as India begins their Windies campaign, it8217;s Chappell biggest test ever.

Aunshuman Gaekwad, former India coach backs the current scheme. 8216;8216;They are playing exceedingly well. To win against Pakistan in Pakistan ODIs is no child8217;s play. So sub-continent or outside it shouldn8217;t be a problem for Chappell and Co.8217;8217;

Says Dilip Vengsarkar, 8216;8216;Conditions out in the Caribbean is not different to what it is here as the their team is not doing well, too.8217;8217; And of course, India return to West Indies for the World Cup in 2007.

JOHNVS vs GREG
First year face-off between Greg Chappell and John Wright:

Wright, Year 1

Tests: 5 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws

8226; Zim in India: won series 1-0

8226; Aus in India: won series 2-1

8226; India in Zim: Drew series 1-1

8226; India in SL: Lost series 1-2

8226; India in SA: Lost series 0-1

ODIs: 16 wins, 13 losses

8226; Zim in India: Won series 4-1

8226; Aus in India: Lost series 2-3

8226; Ind-Zim-WI in Zim: Lost final to West Indies won all four league matches

8226; Ind-SL-NZ in SL: Lost final to SL 3 wins, 3 losses in league

8226; Ind-SA-Kenya in SA: Lost final to SA 3 wins, 3 losses in league

Period: November 2000-November 2001

CHAPPELL, YEAR 1
TESTS: 5 wins, 2 losses, 4 draws

8226; India in Zim: Won series 2-0

8226; SL in India: Won series 2-0

8226; India in Pak: Lost series 0-1

8226; Eng in India: Drew series 1-1

ODIs: 23 wins, 11 losses, 2 abandoned

8226; Ind-SL-WI in SL: Lost finals to SL 2 wins, 2 losses in league

8226; Ind-NZ-Zim in Zim: Lost final to New Zealand 3 wins, 1 loss in league

8226; SL in India: Won series 6-1

8226; SA in India: Drew series 2-2 one abandoned

8226; India in Pak: Won series 4-1

8226; Eng in India: Won series 5-1 one abandoned

8226; Ind-Pak in Abu Dhabi: Drew series 1-1

Period: May 2005 to April 2006

WHAT THEY SAY

8226; Chappell8217;s forthright approach has put the players on their toes and they know that if they do not perform, they will be out of the team. Whereas Wright was a silent guy, but carried out his work efficiently

8212;Ajit Wadekar

8226; Chappell is any day superior. Wright had the advantage of playing with Sachin, Sourav and Dravid in their prime. But Chappell has a very young team. Unlike Wright, he has the guts to take risk

8212;Dilip Vengsarkar

8226; Chappell8217;s assessment of players has been brilliant and knows his bunch of players whom he can experiment with, giving him more options

8212;Aunshuman Gaekwad