‘Ignore youth at your own peril’

Talking in the same vein he adds how the constant change of strategy — experiment, for laymen — was a challenge for a player to improve and add new dimensions to their play. ‘‘Those are calculated risks. If a player is strong enough, the odds of the strategy to succeed increases.’’

He more than hinted that the plans enforced during the ODI series will continue. ‘‘Everything that we have done in the two ODIs will have an influence during the Tests too.’’

That means the Sri Lankans, taken by surprise in the ODIs, won’t have a respite in Tests too. But, for any gameplan to succeed support from all quarters is vital. Chappell considers the Test specialist seniors — Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly — as part of his support staff and their contribution could never be undervalued.

‘‘The senior players have a multi-faceted role to play. They come into the team with the experience of hundreds of Test matches. Their role in team meetings will be important. Talking about different situations and the way to deal with them will benefit not just the juniors in the side but the team in general.’’

That compliments Dravid’s outsourcing responsibilities. Even while talking about the seniors, Chappell doesn’t forget the effort put in by the youngsters during the ODI series that has helped him approach the Tests in a much more confident manner.

‘‘Ignore youth at your own peril. Youthful exuberance was one reason we did so well in the ODIs. We posed different challenges to the youngsters and they responded. They gave a spark to the team and it rubbed off on the senior players also.’’

It is this combination that Chappell helped him get a ‘‘good group working together.’’

It is this spark that Chappell hopes to find from the same group as he is reminded about the two tough away assignments ahead — Pakistan in January-February and the West Indies in May. With India playing a combination of Tests and one-dayers on both the tours Chappell will have rekindled the same chemistry and hope for the symbiotic relationship between the two versions of the game. ‘‘Everybody knows that these are tough tours. But taking them as a challenge and not going there with the fear of failure can see the India doing well.’’

‘Ganguly has done everything that was needed of him’

Insiders talk about a brief conversation coach Chappell and former skipper Sourav Ganguly had in the dressing room just before the first day nets that changed things. Whatever transpired between the two isn’t public knowledge, but Ganguly seemed to be at ease at nets after that. After Ganguly’s batting session at nets the coach had a word with him, applauded one of his diving efforts while doing catching practice and today he talked about the role of seniors in team meeting. Ask about Ganguly and Chappell unusually keeps his answer short. ‘‘He has done all that was needed of him.’’ So does he have a chance to be back for the one-dayers? ‘‘Let’s finish the Test first and like anyone else the performance in Tests will decide the future in ODIs.’’