Drama and Greg!

[DesiChap]

Drama and Greg! By: Geoff Lawson May 4, 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Former Aussie fast bowler on the turbulent coaching term of Greg Chappell, who quit as India coach exactly one month ago IF only the job of coaching India at cricket involved simply coaching India at cricket. Batting, bowling and fielding is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to satisfying the myriad stakeholders of the sub-continent?s cross culture religion. Greg Chappell, a nomad in the cricket and commercial world for some years, had a reasonably good idea of what he might encounter when he pursued, and accepted, one of the toughest coaching assignments in world cricket. The task of calming the turbulent cricket politics outside the team and satisfying the rampant egos within was galactic compared to running fielding drills, organising net session or rediscovering Ajit Agarkar?s outswinger. This was a job that needed an outsider, a person without baggage from his playing days or perceived prejudice from any Indian state. A respected figure was ideal, and Greg Chappell (although never having toured India) carried the right mix. Too Much On His Plate: Former India coach Greg Chappell It is not unusual for coaches in any sport to put the broom through an underachieving team when they take the reins. They make changes to the way people think, or they change the people. Indian cricket is full of outstanding talent just waiting to get a call to the national team and Greg was aware of the areas where the selectors should be looking. As Australian captain Greg had been used to getting his way, used to dominating selectors and selections and making sure he had the men he wanted in his eleven, even if they were not the obvious choices. To be constantly second guessed and overridden must have been difficult for him to stomach. He set the benchmark high as a player and would expect the same from those he coached, but he couldn?t control the other factors that went into fielding an Indian XI. It is hard to say just what effect Bob Woolmer?s death had on Greg?s decision to resign. He may well reveal that sometime in the future. Eventually the challenge that is India and its team became way too much, even for the driven man. As a player and captain he had expected his own talents to prevail, and that they mostly did. He didn?t need encouragement, so why should anyone else? His captaincy manner was autocratic, aloof, he did not suffer the less talented easily and encouraged few through word or direction, he merely expected an elite player to have the skills and belief of himself, perhaps this lack of man management had not run its natural path, diminishing to near nothing through they years. In my early years as a player he was deprecating and intolerant, but the years had mellowed him and the lessons of age should have been learned. Perhaps his inability to not just get his ideas across to the Indian team, but also have them accepted became a failing he could not live next to. Maybe the cultural gap was just too big to build any sort of bridge across. Perhaps the Indian players didn?t have the stomach for hard work or the minds to allow for change? Both wear the badge of failure. As coach of South Australia he left with little to show, from India he left with his reputation as a coach of the ?new? cricket enhanced and a deal of sympathy from observers who feel that the job of perfecting India?s cricket machine is as hard a task as getting a billion fanatics to agree on who should bat at first wicket down. The author is a former Australia fast bowler, who played under Greg Chappell in the 1980s. He claimed 180 wickets in 46 Tests

[Rahul]

Re: Drama and Greg! terrific article. thanks for sharing. take it easy, R