Sep 25, 2005 12:00 PM
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(Updated Sep 25, 2005 12:00 PM)
This Review is in Two part:
Part 1 : https://mouthshut.com/review/Greg_Chappell-83673-1.html
(Under Review of Greg Chappel)
Part 2: You are already here !
Contd from Earlier....
Q2. Ganguly and the Middleorder !
One of the most interesting part of the email is that Chappell says that Ganguly is mentally unfit and is playing the divide and rule policy to stay in the team. He says he constantly harasses the players especially the middle order batsmen who are his direct competitors and keeps changing there batting positions around.
Om’s Theory : Let me analyze this from two angles
The Laxman angle: Laxman’s name has been mixed around quite a few times in the email. I have always personally thought their something there between Laxman and Ganguly. Laxman is a direct competitor to Ganguly’s position as a player. They both bat at similar positions in test match and are fighting for a similar spot in the One Day side. Did you know that Laxman has been run out by Ganguly about 6 times including the in the first test in Zimbabwe where the run out seemed like Ganguly was doing it purposefully !! How can this be a mere coincidence. Also Ganguly never and I mean never praises Laxman’s performances in post match interviews. Chappell alleges that Ganguly is responsible for keeping Laxman out of the One Day side, IT HAS TO BE TRUE !!!”.
The Yuvraj-Kaif angle: Chappell talks about Ganguly playing Yuvraj Vs Kaif and evidence is clear. During the world cup ‘captains’ were appointed for each department. Ganguly main captain, Dravid ‘batting captain’, Kumble ‘bowling captain’ ! Guess who was appointed ‘fielding captain’ ? Kaif, not Yuvraj and I recall Yuvraj feelinh bad about this and talking to the media about his disappointment over this ! Also in test matches a choice between Yuvraj and Kaif has to be made and the choice is always arbitrary ! Eventhough Kaif had played better that Yuvraj in one dayers, the latter was picked up for test against Zimbabwe !! Isn’t this Divide and Rule between Yuvraj and Kaif !
It is obvious that Ganguly plays in the team for himself and tinkles with the batting line up so that he is protected from tough situations. A captain shielding himself now that’s a crime in itself.
Q3. Why did John Wright Shut up ?
John Wright was a coach of India for a long time, why didn’t he have any problems with Ganguly ? Here is my answer …
Om’s Theroy: The question is answered by another question ‘Why didn’t Wright go for an extension eventhough he was offered the post again ?’. There had been media reports that Wright a mild and modest character was not respected in the team. Players used to use obscene words for him in front of him and no one really listened to him. And the person chiefly responsible for that is Ganguly. Wright a modest man, never said anything, Chappell a thick skinned Aussie wouldn’t keep quiet….the answer is simple, there are problems and Chappell has guts to bring them out which Wright never had.
THE VERDICT
The verdict is simple India is going like the Pakistan way, bundle of talent that in Brownian motion and the entropy is made worse by a mercurial captain. The Email leak is a blessing in disguise and if the selectors the bunch of jokers have somesense in them they should retain Chappell who is the only person who can channelize the team’s energy and make them focused and disciplined and throw out the root cause of the Problem- Ganguly.
Let me end this with another incident. What many people do not know is that before Ganguly was picked up for the English tour where he made a century on his test debut, he had already been selected before. Ganguly was in the Indian Squad for the World Cup of 1992 and that is where I believe he had also made his one day debut. In one match Ganguly was a 12th man and was asked to carry drinks for the team, HE REFUSED , AND NOT ONCE BUT TWICE IN TWO MATCHES. The Prince of Kolkatta, the Maharaj always had attitude problems.
