Greg Chappell’s passage into Indian cricket bears the same eerie resonance that accompanied Kapil Dev when he took over the role of the Indian team’s coach in 1999. Kapil came with scintillating adornments on his chest that had resulted from years of toil as a cricket player. Chappell has the same glitter. Kapil was made coach at a time when the team was in turmoil, where lesser names were just not a feasible option. Chappell comes at a slightly healthier time, but with few players in perhaps a similar state of crisis. Kapil was expected to raise the team to unconquered peaks. Chappell, even though has a sturdier foundation to build on, is expected to put India in no less a position than at the top.
When Kapil left the team, it was in a worse state than when he took it – admittedly, much of the problems that beset the team were non-cricketing in nature.
What will be the state of Indian cricket when Chappell leaves?
Ian Chappell, Greg’s brother, feels there is no need of a coach. Whether he means that players do not need guidance or that coaches don’t do much good is not clear. However, whenever a coach has been appointed for a top team, he has generated much interest and after he leaves, there is a sure change in the position of the team – for better or for worse. Kapil Dev’s exit was perhaps the worst moment in Indian cricket as it coincided with the match-fixing controversy. But even before that happened, Kapil’s selection itself was a result of hope; a hope that was born out of Kapil’s reputation as a player than from his ability as a coach.
Greg Chappell, thankfully, promises a lot more than just a fantastic playing record. Like everyone who wanted to be chosen as coach, he too claimed that he had it in him to take the team to the peak of cricket. But he hasn’t stopped at that. The very first words that came from the new Indian coach touched on such issues as the backup strength of the team and the pitches in the country; issues that are dealt only when they stare menacingly at the team (even though his call for the “best cricket wicket possible” is prone to be taken for granted).
This is perhaps his biggest asset along with his reputation of being a no-nonsense man. He seems to think beyond the obvious, which strangely is closer to simplicity than what has been made to look as obvious. His comments on batting are well-documented and without a doubt he will have an immediate impact on the batsmen. He has also spoken about Sachin Tendulkar and his batting style. Though he curtly said that Tendulkar would never be able to play like in the past, he cushioned the blow with an assurance that he’d sort his role in the team.
The fact that Chappell has been given the job till the World Cup of 2007 suggests that One-Day cricket is of paramount importance to the board. The Indian team has had a poor last few months of One-Day cricket and a key reason is the lack of fitness among bowlers. How far he would be able to impart his coaching in that respect is to be seen.
He would need all the information he can gather to find a backup spinner for Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. The regularity with which the fast bowlers are falling injured should worry him no end. But there are quite a lot more issues that he would encounter on this sojourn and the most difficult one could be his relationship with the board.
All the contenders for the post waxed eloquent about the challenges the role poses for them. Most of these challenges are unnecessary and that is where the frustration for a foreigner lies. If Chappell can weave his way past these few cricketing and quite a few non-cricketing problems, he will be better equipped to do some good for India.
When Kapil left the team, it was in a worse state than when he took it – admittedly, much of the problems that beset the team were non-cricketing in nature.
What will be the state of Indian cricket when Chappell leaves?
Ian Chappell, Greg’s brother, feels there is no need of a coach. Whether he means that players do not need guidance or that coaches don’t do much good is not clear. However, whenever a coach has been appointed for a top team, he has generated much interest and after he leaves, there is a sure change in the position of the team – for better or for worse. Kapil Dev’s exit was perhaps the worst moment in Indian cricket as it coincided with the match-fixing controversy. But even before that happened, Kapil’s selection itself was a result of hope; a hope that was born out of Kapil’s reputation as a player than from his ability as a coach.
Greg Chappell, thankfully, promises a lot more than just a fantastic playing record. Like everyone who wanted to be chosen as coach, he too claimed that he had it in him to take the team to the peak of cricket. But he hasn’t stopped at that. The very first words that came from the new Indian coach touched on such issues as the backup strength of the team and the pitches in the country; issues that are dealt only when they stare menacingly at the team (even though his call for the “best cricket wicket possible” is prone to be taken for granted).
This is perhaps his biggest asset along with his reputation of being a no-nonsense man. He seems to think beyond the obvious, which strangely is closer to simplicity than what has been made to look as obvious. His comments on batting are well-documented and without a doubt he will have an immediate impact on the batsmen. He has also spoken about Sachin Tendulkar and his batting style. Though he curtly said that Tendulkar would never be able to play like in the past, he cushioned the blow with an assurance that he’d sort his role in the team.
The fact that Chappell has been given the job till the World Cup of 2007 suggests that One-Day cricket is of paramount importance to the board. The Indian team has had a poor last few months of One-Day cricket and a key reason is the lack of fitness among bowlers. How far he would be able to impart his coaching in that respect is to be seen.
He would need all the information he can gather to find a backup spinner for Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. The regularity with which the fast bowlers are falling injured should worry him no end. But there are quite a lot more issues that he would encounter on this sojourn and the most difficult one could be his relationship with the board.
All the contenders for the post waxed eloquent about the challenges the role poses for them. Most of these challenges are unnecessary and that is where the frustration for a foreigner lies. If Chappell can weave his way past these few cricketing and quite a few non-cricketing problems, he will be better equipped to do some good for India.
