The Hindu : Sport : Many issues to be addressed: Chappell

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Monday, Mar 26, 2007
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Many issues to be addressed: Chappell

TESTING TIMES: Greg Chappell has been taking a lot of flak after India's performance at the World Cup. — PHOTO: AP

New Delhi: A day after his World Cup vision came crumbling down, an under-fire Indian cricket coach Greg Chappell said the team's debacle at the showpiece event required a ``thorough investigation'' and many issues were there to be addressed.

Chappell said instead of being driven by ``knee-jerk reactions,'' it was time to learn lessons from the mistake and find ways to move forward.

``The message that I would like to get across is that knee-jerk reactions and emotional responses to this is not going to solve the problem.

``Sure, the coach will take the brunt, the captain will take the brunt, the players will take the brunt, its deeper than that. There are issues that needs to be addressed and I think this (media) is not the forum to talk about them,'' Chappell said in an interview to CNN-IBN.

Blame game pointless

The Australian said that blaming individuals for the poor performance of the team would not change the fortunes of the side.

``Casting aspersions and putting blame on this area, that area, this individual, that individual in not going to change the scene. We need to do a through investigation into all aspects of what has led to this happening and if we can do that we can move forward.

``There is no doubt that there are lessons that need to be learnt, but I am not going to pick one particular aspect of it. There are many issues that need to be addressed,'' Chappell said.

Right spirit

India's defeats to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the World Cup have all but thrown them out of the mega event even before the start of the Super Eight stage.

On his appraisal of the Indian team's performance in the World Cup, Chappell said, ``I am happy to go back to India and meet the BCCI and talk about the issues as I see them. And I think, if we can learn some lessons from it, then in the long run, it could well do god things for Indian cricket.''

Chappell said though the team's show has disappointed the followers of Indian cricket, it should be taken in the right spirit.

``It is very disappointing, it is very sad for all of us who were involved and it is a sad day obviously for people who support Indian cricket. But it happens in sports,'' he said. — PTI

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