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http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=66358&pn=0


Sachin, Sehwag in Chappell fire line?

Harish Dugh
Posted online: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 1545 hours IST
Updated: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at 1603 hours IST

New Delhi, April 19: Experiment was the ruling mantra for Team India coach Greg Chappell in the first ODI against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, as well as against England in the just concluded ODI series, indicating the Aussie has not got over his halcyon days and that he may pull a mind-numbing surprise on desi cricketdom - something that may cause as much of a ruckus as he did in asking his brother and Australian teammate Trevor to bowl underarm a long time ago.

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His motto of victory at any cost may be a harbinger of many ups and downs for India in the near future as he checks out his strength, and that of his team, on the cricketing pitch as well as in the BCCI boardroom. But for fans it holds out huge promise sans stars.

His policy of trying out various bowling and batting combinations is indicative of the fact that he is gauging exactly how to prepare a team of the future without the Sehwag's, Kaifs and yes, even Sachin Tendulkars. It also indicates that he is an icon breaker and will not hesitate when the time comes to drop the big names in Indian cricket. He is paving the way to exactly that by handling the Sachin affair with kid gloves (unlike the sledgehammer he used against Sourav) so that no one can point fingers at him for dropping India's batsman No. 1.

His blooding of Munaf Patel, increasing usage of Suresh Raina and Venugopal Rao as well as introducing the obese (that is not a statement on his cricketing prowess) Romesh Powar into Team India is a signal of great changes to come, ominously for batsmen and bowlers like V V S Laxman and Harbhajan Singh.

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For, coach Chappell is on the verge of revealing his long-term plans for the nation's cricketing team - he is transforming his image from a foreigner to something bordering India's yoga guru Ramdev - a truism per minute. Till now, the tour to Pakistan, playing hosts to South Africa, Sri Lanka and England were just pitstops to garner fuel for the transformation of Team India into the juggernaut it always promised to be, but was never great in delivering to disappointed fans.

Now, with the BCCI coffers making it World No. 1 in terms of revenue, it is up to the players to put their best foot forward.

The great manthan (churning) is going to prove costly to at least a few individuals mentioned here and will put others on permanent notice.But, others on the outskirts of selection are also in line for a boost, from Robin Uthappa on to Dinesh Kaarthick, can look forawrd to wearing the India cap sometime soon.

But, even these players will be on notice as a couple of under par performances in Ranji and other domestic matches will lead to the boot.

What this means is that the wily coach is taking India to the next level wherein individuals have no meaning and all importance is given to the players who perform day in and day out, without any glitches. Handle the pressure, no choice.

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There will be zero tolerance policy for everybody. This kind of set up is already in effect in Australia but India is set to overtake the men from Down Under.

So if Steve Waugh is akin to our Sourav Ganguly in getting ushered to the exit, then Michael Clarke is our version of Mohd Kaif who may get the wrong end of the stick if performances don't improve. Matthew Hayden almost paid the price and (although he is not in the same league) Sachin may well be in the same shoes that the Oz batsman was wearing just a month ago when he was not scoring. So till Sachin does not recover his penchant for big scores, he is in line for hanging up his bat forever.

The Indian fan is demanding victories and coach Chappell has taken the onus of supplying it. The buck will stop at his desk.

How?

All these players are young and can handle pressure. Once they are told that the Team India spot (signifying crores of rupees) is open to performers only and that whoever undergoes a loss of form is to be dropped and the next in line is to be blooded will not generate suicides in cricketing terms. It will open the mind of the cricketers to a greater extent and much bigger achievements. They will know they have just a few chances to cement their spots and nothing else. It will make men out of them in a hurry and they will take to bringing tangible results. Learn to handle the pressure in the domestic stage, not at the international level will be the mean new talk.

For the fans that means saying goodbye to gloom that so often overtakes them as India loses, and instead they can look out for greater chances at jubilation.



My comment: A little premature to celebrate

[squarecut]

Yes a little premature to celebrate. I will wait till WI and SA tours.

[keep-it-cool]

I will celebrate now and celebrate even harder if we do well in WI and SA. C'mon guys, enjoy the journey as much as reaching the destination!!

[senthilpeter]

wow... Harish Dugh never ceases to amaze me. He generally always writes crap. But this time, though he's guilty of over-optimism, he's sniffing his way along the right track.

Chappel surely is ushering in an era of personality less cricket. How far he succeeds is actually in the hands of the Indian public, but he's trying. Actually, I like this. After years and years I now look at scorecards of games I miss without hoping any particular player scored. The opposite was the case all the time during the 90s for me -- hoping all the time that SRT would have scored. And guess what he almost always did. Maybe thats why he is the icon he is.
But I sure am glad now cos I just dont care who scores. Anyone is fair game. Score and stay or leave!!!! Nice. In my past, I'd have been doing Irfan or Dhoni puja every morning.

[toney]

I too think this article is a little premature by an excited Indian cricket fan. I will wait till India loses consistently again, even if that takes a long time.

[flute202020]

I too think this article is a little premature by an excited Indian cricket fan. I will wait till India loses consistently again, even if that takes a long time.

Agreed it is a little premature to celebrate or get too excited.
But, you will wait for consistent losses? why?  what do you mean?

[fineleg]

I will celebrate now and celebrate even harder if we do well in WI and SA. C'mon guys, enjoy the journey as much as reaching the destination!!

Well said, kic. Applause.
In my case, I worry during the matches. But, after we win, esp. after reading ur stmt, I want to make sure I celebrate each and every win. Let us indeed enjoy the journey.

[toney]

I too think this article is a little premature by an excited Indian cricket fan. I will wait till India loses consistently again, even if that takes a long time.

Agreed it is a little premature to celebrate or get too excited.
But, you will wait for consistent losses? why?  what do you mean?

Because I am wishing for RD-GC to fail. I will never wish India any good as long as these two are at the helm.

[flute202020]

I too think this article is a little premature by an excited Indian cricket fan. I will wait till India loses consistently again, even if that takes a long time.

Agreed it is a little premature to celebrate or get too excited.
But, you will wait for consistent losses? why?  what do you mean?

Because I am wishing for RD-GC to fail. I will never wish India any good as long as these two are at the helm.

I thought so 

[keep-it-cool]

I will celebrate now and celebrate even harder if we do well in WI and SA. C'mon guys, enjoy the journey as much as reaching the destination!!

Well said, kic. Applause.
In my case, I worry during the matches. But, after we win, esp. after reading ur stmt, I want to make sure I celebrate each and every win. Let us indeed enjoy the journey.

thanx fineleg .. worrying during matches is normal .. getting frustrated after losses is too... which is why one should celebrate after wins as well ...

[justforkix]

I will celebrate now and celebrate even harder if we do well in WI and SA. C'mon guys, enjoy the journey as much as reaching the destination!!

Well said, kic. Applause.
In my case, I worry during the matches. But, after we win, esp. after reading ur stmt, I want to make sure I celebrate each and every win. Let us indeed enjoy the journey.

thanx fineleg .. worrying during matches is normal .. getting frustrated after losses is too... which is why one should celebrate after wins as well ...

In my case, I would like to enjoy the journey during the match too 

So much so, now I have started celebrate the opposition 4s and 6s and Indian wickets too 

[keep-it-cool]

I will celebrate now and celebrate even harder if we do well in WI and SA. C'mon guys, enjoy the journey as much as reaching the destination!!

Well said, kic. Applause.
In my case, I worry during the matches. But, after we win, esp. after reading ur stmt, I want to make sure I celebrate each and every win. Let us indeed enjoy the journey.

thanx fineleg .. worrying during matches is normal .. getting frustrated after losses is too... which is why one should celebrate after wins as well ...

In my case, I would like to enjoy the journey during the match too 

So much so, now I have started celebrate the opposition 4s and 6s and Indian wickets too 

in that case, here's hoping that you do not enjoy much