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Winning the Aussie way
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Karnataka cricket stalwarts feel that the Greg Chappell era will be a good one for Indian cricket as he will instil the Aussie sporting ideology in Indian cricketers
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TOP SLOTS The race for bowling and fielding coaches for Indian cricketers is heating up. Former Karnataka pace spearhead Venkatesh Prasad has applied for the post PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE.
"Sticks and stones hurt, but names don't. And all that matters is competing hard for a win and enjoying the team game," said Rodney Marsh, Aussie wicket-keeping legend many summers ago at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Marsh was replying to a query about his cricketing mates earning the nickname The Ugly Aussie for their excessive aggression and blatant sledging on the field, which often took the sheen off their hard-earned victories.
Marsh's words summed up the Aussie approach to cricket or any other sport for that matter. Over the years, the Australian cricket team has reduced sledging but that has not diminished its aggression and quest for excellence. And if Rodney Marsh's skipper Greg Chappell, now busy as the Indian team coach, can impart to the Indian team the essence of Australia's blinkered approach to victory, then Indian cricket is in for some good times.
Former cricketers based in Bangalore had kind words and loads of expectation as they watched and heard the news breaking about Chappell's appointment as coach for a two-year tenure.
Venkatesh Prasad who supported Chappell's cause even before the appointment became a formality, said: "I have always believed that Greg Chappell was the right man for the job and I have said this earlier too. He was a player of great stature, has a fine cricketing brain, is a very good thinker and has a clear-cut philosophy towards coaching as is evident in his statements after taking over as coach. I think if he gets the right support from the BCCI and the other support staff, he should do well for the team."
Chappell's appointment despite being pitted against a younger Tom Moody may raise the issue about the Aussie great's age-factor — he is 56, but Javagal Srinath struck the right note when he said: "Chappell appears to be somebody who will endorse contemporary cricket and is in tune with it."
Srinath stressed on the words `contemporary cricket' and that should take care of critics who wonder whether an ageing Chappell can be in sync with modern times and techniques.
Meanwhile India's wicket-keeping stalwart Syed Kirmani emphasised that adequate time should be given for Chappell to settle down. "Chappell is a very experienced cricketer and a great leader but I guess it will take a few months for both him and the team to get used to each other. He is a no-nonsense cricketer and will be a tough customer," he cautioned.
Chappell may be settling down into John Wright's shoes and planning new methods to help revive Indian cricket, but around him the clamour for new posts among his supporting staff has increased. Just a week before Chappell's appointment, Venkatesh Prasad and Balwinder Singh Sandhu, both former India seamers and qualified coaches with Level-III certificates under their belt, offered their candidature for a probable bowling coach slot with the Indian team.
Sandhu said: "I am open to any slot, may be as a consultant to the bowling department and I wish the Board will recognise former Indian cricketers who are now qualified coaches."
Prasad added: "If the BCCI approaches me with the post of the bowling coach, I will be happy to pass on my expertise gained with the experience of playing at the highest level and also by attending coaching courses over the years."
K.C. VIJAYA KUMAR
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