Saturday, May 21, 2005

Meet the new Indian coach

Probably world’s best coach technically. The 56-year old Australian has a flair for the big occasion. He scored a century in his first and final Tests, scored centuries in both innings of his debut Test as captain and in between established a reputation as one of the finest thinkers of the modern game.

Failed in 2000 for talking more about his pay-cheque than his vision for Indian cricket. Since travelled to MRF Pace Academy and National Cricket Academy and interacted with coaches and players. Was shortlisted by West Indies too but yet again money proved to be an impediment. Changed South Australia’s fortunes. Once suggested that Sachin should open in Tests.He has also written a brilliant book on coaching, 'Greg Chappell on Coaching: The Making of Champions.'

Sourav Ganguly, Indian skipper, had approached Chappell to try and iron out deficiencies in his technique against quick bowlers and the rising ball just before India's last tour of Australia.

Chappell seemed to have special liking for India as his five scores in Test cricket read as : 204,36,52,76 & 0.

His best performance in ODIs also came against India – 5 for 15 at Sydney in 1980-81

Chappell in Facts & Figures
Full name Gregory Stephen ChappellBorn August 7, 1948, Unley, Adelaide, South Australia
Age 56 years Major teams Australia, Queensland, Somerset, South Australia
Type : Right-hand middle order batsman & Right-arm medium pace / leg-break bowler
First-class debut : South Australia v Victoria at Adelaide,1966-67
Last first-class match: Queensland v Western Australia at Perth, 1983-84
Test debut: v England at Perth, 1970-71
Last Test: v Pakistan at Sydney, 1983-84
ODI debut: v England at Melbourne, 1970-71
Last ODI: v Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC), 1982-83

Career highlights:
-Scored a century in his very first Test innings (108 v England at Perth,1970-71).
-Scored a century in his last Test innings (182 v Pakistan at Sydney, 1983-84).
-Remains the only player to score Test centuries in both innings on captaincy debut (123 & 109* v West Indies at Brisbane in 1975-76).
-Beat West Indies 5-1 in his debut series as a captain
-Led Australia to 8 series wins in his captaincy as against 3 losses.
-Was the top scorer 13 times in an all-out innings. Only Allan Border performed this feat on more occasions (15) as an Australian captain (after playing 68 innings more).
-Wisden Cricketer of the year 1973
-In the year 2002 he was inducted into the prestigious Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
...and the last one
-He was infamously involved in the underarm bowling incident in the New Zealand-Australia One-day International on February 1, 1981. Greg Chappell, the captain, ordered his brother, Trevor Chappell, to bowl with an underarm motion, thus ensuring the Australian team would win the match and avoid a tie.