No rear view for this coach

However, Chappell is clear that he doesn’t want to look back at those mistakes and discuss what went wrong in the two home series against Australia and Pakistan; instead he wants his players to look at amplifying their positives and make them count.

‘‘The biggest positive from the two camps so far has been the work put in by trainer Greg King and physio John Gloster’’, Chappell told The Indian Express today. ‘‘It sets us up nicely to concentrate on the skills.’’

There’s also the issue of personnel. The feeling in Team India circles is that several of the senior players — those past 30 — will not make it to the 2007 World Cup, the ultimate goal of Chappell’s current contract.

And Chappell is anyway not overtly pleased with the potential of the probables though he believes that it takes more than mere talent to succeed at the top level. ‘‘The main aim of the camp will be to create foundations for the coming season’’, Chappell says.

Key to the team’s successes will be Sachin Tendulkar and the role he plays in Chappell’s plans. The two were due to meet in Bangalore later tonight to discuss this.

One possibility could be Tendulkar coming lower down the order in ODIs; there is a feeling that, in opening with Sehwag, he is forced to compete with his younger partner and ends up at a disadvantage. Tendulkar could also follow Brian Lara and Shane Warne and consciously cut down on his cricket, perhaps sticking only to the bigger ODI tournaments.

Chappell believes that achieving the next level is not about reinventing the wheel but merely repeating the good things consistently. In fact, at a meeting he plans with the 36 probables, he will emphasise on how the players themselves will script their own careers over the next few months.

‘‘Greg is of the opinion that it is not up to the coach or the selectors to decide anything; it is up to the players themselves to perform. Those good enough will put their hand up. Only the best will survive’’, says a member of the team.

After all he’s trying to make men out of boys.

CHAPPELL’S IN-TRAY

• Redefining Sachin Tendulkar’s role in the team and finding one for VVS Laxman in ODIs

• Mohammad Kaif’s batting position in ODIs and role in Tests

• Specialised fielding positions

• Finding anchors: Dravid in Tests and Ganguly/Kaif in one-dayers

• Getting optimum from Dhoni, batsman-keeper

• Moulding Irfan as next all-rounder (provided he rediscovers his inswingers)

• Fixing the fringe: JP Yadav, S Sriram, Hemang Badani, Dinesh Mongia, Joginder Sharma

• Identifying players for the future: Suresh Raina, Niraj Patel, Venugopal Rao