The Cricket Interview/ Greg Chappell
'The idea of two captains is disruptive and creates total confusion'
The Chappells are Australia's answer
to the Grace family. Test captain Victor
Richardson's three grandsons -- Ian, Greg and Trevor -- all played Test cricket.
Ian and Greg were amongst the finest batsmen
of their generation and are the only instance of brothers captaining
Australia.
Greg Chappell, who took over from Ian as captain in 1976-77,
was perhaps the more brilliant batsman. A tall, naturally graceful
righthander, his batting was cool and composed, without being
casual: he mastered the best bowlers in the worst batting
conditions. At the crease, he appeared instantly and permanently
at ease, rarely betraying any emotion. In Sharjah as
one of Worldtel's panel of six distinguished commentators, Greg spoke to Anant Gaundalkar.
What is your take on the controversial Australian Cricket Board plan of having separate captains and teams for Test and one-day games?
I never supported the idea of having two captains and I don't
support it now either. The idea is disruptive because it hampers
the process of integration between the players. It blocks the decision-making
process and creates total confusion. Had Australia won the Test series in India, it would have meant that the winning captain, Mark Taylor, would have been out of the one-day squad and back home.
This is ridiculous!
The team has to report to different
bosses and get its act together. This has never been done before. There were no problems
with having a captain to lead the side in both versions of the game, so the change is uncalled for. One can understand one or two changes for the Test and
one-day games, but different captains is totally unjustified.
How can Ian Healy -- the best wicket-keeper in the world -- not find a place in the one-day team?
Do you think there is an overdose of cricket these days?
I see too much cricket being played. The International
Cricket Council must act before
the situation gets out of hand. They must plan the itinerary in a
proper fashion, well in advance, and give sufficient time between
matches and the series with utmost importance to travelling details
so that players get proper rest and respite.
These days, the
situation is so bad that players sometimes don't get time to have
nets before the matches. This is not correct. I am a firm believer in the fact that one must have nets
before international matches.
Apart from this, I don't see any drastic
change in basic values. The guys still go out and have fun. All
the companionship and sense of camaraderie which we used to
feel in our times is still alive. Players in the middle give hundred
percent with a marked improvement in the fielding department.
Has the dispute between the ACB and players been resolved?
I think so. Both parties seems to have worked out the percentage
of the cake to be shared. But the exact amount is not known.
It is a closely guarded secret. But the administrators and players
have sorted out their problems.
No, there is no truth in the fact that the Board is trying to divide players by appointing different teams for Test and one-day cricket. This is just somebody's imagination. Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist
are best friends on and off the field. I don't think the development
of separate sets of players for two forms of cricket have in any
case disturbed the unity among players. They are playing like
a team, united right from the word go.
Who, according to you, is the best batsman in the world today?
Undoubtedly, Sachin Tendulkar of India.
He has developed an uncanny ability to take on any attack -- pace
as well as spin -- as he has demonstrated against Australia's
Shane Warne and South Africa's Allan Donald. He is a perfectly balanced batsman and
knows perfectly well when to attack and when to play defensive
cricket. He has developed the ability to treat bowlers all over
the world with contempt and can destroy any attack with utmost
ease.
Apart from having good eyesight, he picks up the length
of the delivery well in advance and never find himself in no man's
land while batting. He rarely plays a false shot. Further, he
is mentally a very tough player and a quick learner of
the game. With his terrific batting performance at a such a young
age he has clearly sidelined Brian Lara, Mark
Waugh, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya and Steve Waugh.
I am sure if he continues in this fashion he will
achieve a lot many landmarks for his country.
He is a gifted player and gave a new dimension to batting
in the modern day.
And Shane Warne?
Yet another great player with the ability to bowl six different
balls in a single over. With his tantalising deliveries,
he has accounted for the best batsmen in the world. Of
late, unfortunately, his shoulder trouble seems to have taken a slight
toll of his wicket-taking ability. If he continues to play for
another 3 or 4 years, I am sure he will set up a new world record
for the highest tally of Test wickets.
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