I want to be remembered as a reasonable man: Chappell

KINGSTON: Greg Chappell has learnt to combine some old Indian virtues with hard-boiled Australian professionalism for optimum results. "Prayers and performance both count," he is reported to have said in the dressing room after India's superb victory in Thursday's cliff-hanger. In many ways, this could be more a self-appraisal on his first year in office, to the day today, than a comment on the outcome of the match.

From a tough-talking Aussie to benign philosopher might seem like a remarkable ‘conversion', but Chappell lets that pass without contest. "You keep learning as you go along," he says, precipitating the complexities of being cricket coach of India into one simple sentence of wisdom.

Chappell's been on a roller-coaster ride since he got the lucrative US$200,000 per annum (approx) from the BCCI on May 20, 2005. He dived headlong into the passion, the politics, the chaos, the madness, and the brilliance that drives Indian cricket — and has survived. In the process, some old friends (Sourav Ganguly was the one who introduced him to the board) have become foes, and some strangers (Rahul Dravid) have become new friends. Turn to p16

But Chappell says he is committed to the job, not people.

"It was always about issues, never about any personality," he says about the controversies that dominated the first few months of his tenure. Nevertheless, for sheer impact on the national psyche, Ganguly's ouster must rank as a bigger event than Lala Amarnath being sent back from England in 1936, or Kapil Dev being dropped from the Test team in 1984-85.

"To win in cricket, the culture in a team, the dressing room, needs to be right. A team standing still is actually moving behind," he says, deploying an aphorism. The process of reengineering started with Dravid being made captain, Ganguly being sidelined, and a host of youngsters being inducted into the side at regular intervals. "To win consistently," says Chappell, "the man at the top is most important, but young blood is crucial too, to bring in freshness, enthusiasm in every match.

"There is incredible talent in India, all we've done is provide opportunities and they've repaid our trust by playing superbly. Success at cricket comes from confidence. We've supported the young players who we believe have calibre. Look at Raina or Sreesanth, or Munaf."

For Dravid, Chappell's praise is more effusive. "He's a tremendous individual, with character, humility and integrity — and I don't use this easily to define anybody." The fact that he and Dravid are on the same wavelength helps, Chappell says, but adds that on the field the captain is boss. "I've been in that position, so I know what it means. My job is to create a culture of excellence, provide support, and share ideas. Where choosing teams, decision-making is concerned, it's Rahul's job."

The turnaround in India's fortunes, Chappell believes, came in Pakistan when the team bounced back in the one-dayers after losing the Test series. "That was tough, because losing to Pakistan can be demoralising," he says. "But everybody rallied around the captain splendidly."

Chappell admits, though, that the side not winning Test matches consistently worries him. "It's easier to organise and plan for 50-over games, but we still have a lot to do where Test matches are concerned." The priority now, however, is next year's World Cup. "India can win it. We have to improve on the fielding, but more importantly, the fitness and focus have to be maintained," he says.

His contract expires after next year's big event, but Chappell is not thinking that far into the future. "Winning this series is of primary importance, and the one after this," he says.

Asked what he would like to be remembered as in Indian cricket, Chappell's response is cryptic. "As a reasonable man," he says.