Causing ripples is an understatement. Greg Chappell continues to raise tornadoes in the Indian cricket circuit long after his official stint with the Indian cricket team got over. This time he is in news for his controversial role of assistant coach to the touring Australian team to India. The Indian media is crying hoarse over the matter asserting that Chappell can “leak out secrets” about Indian weaknesses and playing conditions, going to the extent of labeling him a traitor. The general public sentiment is anti-Chappell and people feel betrayed by the Aussie who served as the Indian coach from 2005-2007.

The Indians are an emotional lot and the Indian media loves to create mountains out of molehills. Let’s put some mind to the matter. When Chappell joined the Team India as the coach back in 2005, the Indian media went ballistic at the prospects of having a former Australian player at the helm. The popular sentiment was that the Aussies became beatable as Coach Chappell would give us “insights” into the Australian playing strategies and loopholes. And now that the ball is in the other court, the Indian media is overhauling the gossip mill. Sheer hypocrisy!

There are several other allegations at Chappell. His association with the Australian Team has been called an unprofessional act by the critics. After the expiry of his official contract, he was free to give his services to any team he wanted. The question of lack of professionalism doesn’t even exist! The skeptics opine that this association will be lethal for Team India since the Aussies now have the key to the chamber of secrets that hides Indian team’s weaknesses and mind games. These reasons do not stand any meaning in a time where teams sit and brainstorm over recorded matches and players’ performances.

The secrets are out in the public for everyone to see. It is the prerogative of a team to analyze its opponent’s weaknesses and then score in on them. After all the theoretical discussions and paper plans, it all boils down to how eleven men perform on field. So even if Guru Greg has leaked any “secrets”, it is eventually up to the players to shape and define the match.

Greg maintains that his on-going association with Rajasthan Cricket Association does not imply that he is a double agent and there is no copyright on cricket wisdom. Regarding the controversy that Greg used his influence in RCA to get a week-long tenure to accustom to Indian conditions; Greg asserts that any visiting team to Australia will be welcome to use facilities.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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