India got walloped again at Capetown. That is, after having South Africa zero for two and forty something for four. They can still salvage a draw in the series, which is highly unlikely given the team’s limp showing in the first two one dayers. So, who is to blame?
After the genial John Wright announced his departure in the spring of last year, he did so with a decent record. Now Team India needed someone to take it one-step further. The underachieving bunch had turned into world class competitors and someone was needed to further metamorphose the team to world-beaters.
In came Greg Chappell, the second and doubtless most gifted of that special trinity of Aussie brothers. He was going to bring in resolve, new ideas and make legends of proven men and men of untapped talent. Yet, after more than a year of endless (and some say needless) experiments, tinkering with the batting order and weird training camps, the upward swing once promised has been more like a cycle running down a mountain slope. And, in the hands of perpetual underachievers, that could end up into a freefall. The end result, I leave to the imagination of the readers.
While it is easy to criticize Chappell, one can’t help but wonder what some of those critics can do with the Indian team. It is time for them to stop the maligning and take the reins themselves. Who knows, the magic potion may just be lying in this very country. Maybe, it is that marvelous little man from Mumbai who has over ten thousand test runs to his credit and lose nothing in comparison with the Aussie legend. Will people like him please stand up?
Via: Dailyindia, The Telegraph
For the Indian under-achievement Greg cannot be held responsible entirely, the job of the coach is to train his wards, he cannot get out there and perform on their behalf. Team India is on a crucial juncture, its down in morale and the players need a definite face lift - I am one core critic of the Indian Team but here I am defending their cause only for one reason, with under 4 months for the World Cup our focus should be on building the team for the major gala...and for that the Team Management will have to start from scratch, first n foremost we need to have a better selection criterion, we have seen in the ongoing series that the present criterion is inapt to counter the different pitch conditions outside the subcontinent.
Greg Chappell’s comment on the Indian polity is something out of the blue – for a professional of his stature to come-up with such a statement is mere disdain…Yes, dear Azielkarthak I agree with you the Indian legends should be given opportunity to be in the helm of things of Indian cricket and for that little man from Mumbai could be the best alternative for Greg – but that would only add to the Indian adversity if its done now… I think Greg will deliver goods but contrary to his critics.
