Australia bank on former India coach
Ricky Ponting’s Australia are looking for inside knowledge from
former India coach Greg Chappell to help the tourists win the upcoming
four-Test series on Indian soil.
Chappell, an ex-Australian captain and batting legend, coached India
from 2005-2007 before taking over as head of Cricket Australia’s Centre
of Excellence in Brisbane this year. He returns to India as assistant
coach of the 15-man Australian squad with the primary aim of guiding the
young squad on what is widely regarded as one of the toughest cricketing
tours. Australian pace bowler Brett Lee said he was delighted that the
tourists can use Chappell’s knowledge of Indian conditions for the
series starting in Bangalore on October 9.
“We will definitely be picking his brains for every little bit of
knowledge and experience he’s gained,” Lee told reporters on Tuesday.
“Being a former India coach is one of the reasons he’s here, but also
for his experience as a past Australian captain and player and what he’s
achieved.
“Just to have him around is great. We are looking forward to having
Greg Chappell help us and the guys with their batting and fielding.
“I think he’ll be a very key member of the Australian team. “He’s
here and he’s wearing Australian colours. What he has done for the
Indian players has been brilliant, but he’s moved on, taken up a new
challenge and that’s great for us.” Chappell helped organise the
Australian team’s week-long training camp in Jaipur, where he spent the
past year as coach of Rajasthan state’s cricket academy.
Chappell had a difficult two-year reign as India’s coach, now
remembered mostly for his public spat with Sourav Ganguly that led to
the sacking of the country’s most successful Test captain. The
Australian resigned from the post after India’s unceremonious
first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Chappell’s experience will benefit the tourists — only skipper
Ponting and batsmen Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich have
played a Test in India before.
JAIPUR, Thursday AFP |