The Hindu : Sport : Chappell will inspire the Indian team to be the best: Engineer

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Wednesday, Jun 01, 2005

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Chappell will inspire the Indian team to be the best: Engineer

G. Viswanath

Harbhajan is one of the finest off-spinners

— File Photo: V.V. Krishnan

TALKING STRAIGHT: Engineer is confident that Chappell will get the best out of the players.

Mumbai: A flashy stumper during his playing days, Farokh Engineer was as usual in a chirpy mood at the Cricket Club of India on Monday evening.

Visiting his hometown to promote a beverage brand, the 67-year-old Engineer listed quite a few tasks for India's coach Greg Chappell.

"The BCCI's special committee has taken the right decision to appoint Greg Chappell. I have played against him and he's a better batsman than his brother Ian. He will bring about a change in the skill and psychological aspects of the game and more importantly inculcate killer instinct in the team.

"India has lost from winning positions in the recent past. Greg will inspire the team to be the best and not the second best. Excuse the pun, Wright did not do anything wrong,'' Engineer said.

He said the majority of the players in the Indian team would not have seen Chappell play and will have the opportunity to meet, talk and gain knowledge.

"They will have a lot of respect for him. A great batsman need not necessarily become a great coach. But, according to me, Greg is a thinking man's cricketer. He will have nothing new to tell in terms of fundamentals to the established members of the team.

"He will raise the confidence levels of the players and extract from their ability and potential to crush the opposition when they are on top. He will also focus on the fielding department in which India is not very smart at now. I am sure Greg will get the results.''

Healthy competition

According to Engineer, the Australian legend will have to quickly choose between a wicketkeeper-batsman and batsman-wicketkeeper.

"At the moment, there is a fresh crop of 'keepers in India. There's healthy competition. I am sorry for Parthiv Patel. He should not have been ostracised and criticised by the media. He's a young fellow.

"Three years ago in England Parthiv demonstrated good attitude and spirit, especially in the Trent Bridge Test. His confidence must have been shattered. He had a poor run in Australia, but he should not lose heart and instead strive for success again.

"I am pleasantly surprised by Dinesh Kaarthick and, more pleasantly, by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Kaarthick looked the part in the Champions Trophy in England. India should not put undue pressure on these chaps. Dhoni appears to have the attitude and is gutsy.

"It's here that Greg has to pick from the options available to maintain the balance of the side. If the wicketkeeper is outstanding as a batsman, like Adam Gilchrist, India should opt for him straightaway for One-Day Internationals. Dravid was not enjoying standing behind and in such a case the chances of getting injured are high,'' said Engineer, who is the senior vice-president of county side Lancashire.

Play straight

Engineer also spoke about the bigger sweet spots in the bat these days, about V.V.S. Laxman and Harbhajan Singh.

"In my opinion Harbhajan is one of the finest off-spinners. He can trouble batsmen on all wickets because of his height and ability to extract bounce and turn. I think the ICC should leave him alone. Laxman plays too much across the line. He has to meet the ball straight. He's a classy batsman.''

Engineer felt that Sourav Ganguly's weakness against short-pitched balls and bouncers have been exploited by the other international sides.

"He has to go to the drawing board again if he has to score runs in Test cricket.''

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