Print

Please post once and this message will disappear! Introduce yourself, say hello, jump into a discussion...

[Libran]

http://hindustantimes.com/htcricket/7912_1615108,00160115.htm

Woolmer hits back at Chappell
 
United News of India
Lahore, February 2, 2006
 
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has joined the war of words with his India counterpart Greg Chappell after the latter's observation that there was something seriously 'different' with speedster Shoaib Akhtar's action.

Chappell told the media that Shoaib's action was very difficult to pick up and he demanded the tearaway pacer should be tested again.

Irked by Chappell's remark, Woolmer told BBC Sport, "The International Cricket Council has a report circulating which says he is not to be questioned again."

Winning his first battle with the Aussie after Pakistan won the three-match series in Karachi on Thursday, Woolmer said, "To bring it up during a Test match and blast it all over the papers is disappointing and hard on the player."

Shoaib, who took three wickets in the deciding final match on Wednesday, was suspended in 1999 for a suspect action before being cleared when it was found that his elbow is built with extra flex resulting in "hyperextension."

An adamant Chappell, however, refused to buy the argument and insisted it could not be attributed to deformity.

Bio-mechanics expert Bruce Elliott, who supervised Shoaib's remedial measures, however, sided with the pacer and said re-examining won't serve any purpose for Shoaib has already been tested and cleared.

Woolmer, also seemed impressed by the pacer's ability to bounce back despite controversies and said, "It's tough on him but I thought he responded magnificently."

Chappell's remarks also incurred the wrath of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which is examming the veracity of whether he actually made those remarks. According to a Board official, PCB has already written to Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, besides seeking a clarification from Team India.

Meanwhile, an irate Shoaib has threatened legal action against people trying to tarnish his name with chucking allegations.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My question is .....Will the Indian Board stand by Greg Chappell ?
                         Will this be termed as a 'misquote' nad pushed under the carpet
                         Will he state that he was attending to an ulcer in his mouth 

Whatever it is.....he is not making things easier for the players just before the start of the ODIs....

[Blwe_torch]

Chappel and RSD make a real punch and judy couple!

[Sahir]

I reckon nothing much more will be said from the Indian side, eventually leading to the story dying down-- nothing is really going to come out of it.

[Libran]

I reckon nothing much more will be said from the Indian side, eventually leading to the story dying down-- nothing is really going to come out of it.

An eternal optimist...aren't you  ...and you must be a socialist..out to kill the money minded capitalists running those dime a dozen tabloids and 24 hr news channels 

[gouravk]

I agree with Sahir .. natural death theory will work. It is not very important anyway.

[Jai]

Whether the story dies a natural death or not, I think it's about time BCCI tells GC what his exact role is and that he will do himself and everyone else a big favor if he sticks to it. The SL series is over. Ultimately GC will be judged by the team's performance and not by his media talks. Actually, if PCB puts pressure on BCCI, there will be some behind the room discussions. One of the regional newspapers reported a few days back that both More and GC are losing friends in BCCI because of their strong anti-SG stand. It's not going down well with a powerful section of the BCCI. I can't say whether there's any truth to that report. If you ask Prem, he'll probably laugh it off. It's up to individuals to believe it or not.

[gouravk]

Why should GC not do things that are outside his role ?? He might have stated an opinion. If that is hurt someone or violated some agreement, the party in concern can take objection to it , as has happened. I dont think that doing things outside ones predefined role in itself is  a crime.

[bouncer]

Why should GC not do things that are outside his role ?? He might have stated an opinion. If that is hurt someone or violated some agreement, the party in concern can take objection to it , as has happened. I dont think that doing things outside ones predefined role in itself is  a crime.

No one says it is a crime. But it is improper for him to get dragged into this kind of controversy.  Don't try to exercise your free-speech rights when you are doing a job.

[gouravk]

Well, subjective. If he can do so and still do a good job, what the hell ?

[flute202020]

Whether the story dies a natural death or not, I think it's about time BCCI tells GC what his exact role is and that he will do himself and everyone else a big favor if he sticks to it. The SL series is over. Ultimately GC will be judged by the team's performance and not by his media talks. Actually, if PCB puts pressure on BCCI, there will be some behind the room discussions. One of the regional newspapers reported a few days back that both More and GC are losing friends in BCCI because of their strong anti-SG stand. It's not going down well with a powerful section of the BCCI. I can't say whether there's any truth to that report. If you ask Prem, he'll probably laugh it off. It's up to individuals to believe it or not.

bouncer & Jai, get some perspective guys, try to move away from your 'SG' centric world and try to support the team in its tactics. This is the biggest challenge GC is facing now, even his calculated attempts at making the opposition defensive is being attacked by our own.

Frankly, tell me, how many on this DG thinks that Shoib's action is clean? If it is indeed suspect, what is wrong in GC saying so and in the process trying to put the opposition in defensive? If a bowler is cleared, it doesn't mean, he is cleared for life and he can go and throw as much as he wants.

Watch Akthar in action and tell me GC got it wrong.

[MasterBlaster]

Haven't you all seen Shoaib bowl?  What's wrong in calling a spade and spade?  Atleast, GC has the courage to speak the truth.  What are you guys complaining about?  He's saying things for the benefit of Team India.  If that puts pressure on one Mr. Akhtar of the opposing team -  who cares?  I for one am not impressed by Mr.Akhtar's attempts to chuck bouncers at 90+ miles directed at SRT's body.  There should be zero tolerance for bowlers like Chuckter.

[toney]

Frankly, tell me, how many on this DG thinks that Shoib's action is clean? If it is indeed suspect, what is wrong in GC saying so and in the process trying to put the opposition in defensive? If a bowler is cleared, it doesn't mean, he is cleared for life and he can go and throw as much as he wants.

Watch Akthar in action and tell me GC got it wrong.

Very valid questions. The other day too, Oracle accused a thread starter (and others including me who supported it) for being a whiner when he raised this issue. Why is it that the ICC treats chucking as some unmentionable act? Give power to the umpires, let them decide what is fair and what is not. What is the guarantee that a bowler, who under lab conditions shows a squeaky clean action doesnt promptly (or in an important series) starts chucking again?
I think such bowlers should be wired even in real match conditons, however impractical it may sound. Why should opposition batsmen suffer for their so called "handicaps"? I am not sympathetic to such handicaps.

And before anyone raises this, I'll say the same about Harbhajan. If he  is proven to chuck in matches, he should be banned (or simpler, called by the umpire).

[toney]

To add, I dont think Akhtar was that influential on the third test. He may have got the wickets of RD and VS and hit SRT's helemt but that only played a small part in the victory. So, dont say that I am whining again.

[Sahir]

The real furore should have been raised over the beamer Akhtar bowled at Dhoni-- that was despicable.

[Sahir]

I reckon nothing much more will be said from the Indian side, eventually leading to the story dying down-- nothing is really going to come out of it.

An eternal optimist...aren't you  ...and you must be a socialist..out to kill the money minded capitalists running those dime a dozen tabloids and 24 hr news channels 

Hahaha-- socialist

[toney]

Sahir, I'll give Akhtar the benefit of doubt. I cant imagine people trying to hurt opposition batsmen like that. I was angry that he didnt apologize but thats an altogether different thing.

[bouncer]

bouncer & Jai, get some perspective guys, try to move away from your 'SG' centric world and try to support the team in its tactics. This is the biggest challenge GC is facing now, even his calculated attempts at making the opposition defensive is being attacked by our own.

Frankly, tell me, how many on this DG thinks that Shoib's action is clean? If it is indeed suspect, what is wrong in GC saying so and in the process trying to put the opposition in defensive? If a bowler is cleared, it doesn't mean, he is cleared for life and he can go and throw as much as he wants.

Watch Akthar in action and tell me GC got it wrong.

What has SG got to do with all of these1

You think GC trashing Akhtar in media is part of the team tactics and so, we need to support it as true patriotic Indians!

Well, GC starting an unnecassary controversy can not be part of a winning tactics.  And if you harp on it too much, especially now, you sound like a sore loser.

And, finally Boss, who cares about what we think about someone's bowling action. ICC did look into it, gave a clean chit, and that is that.  No point in revisiting Akhtar's , Murali's or Harbhajan's bowling action

[Sahir]

Sahir, I'll give Akhtar the benefit of doubt. I cant imagine people trying to hurt opposition batsmen like that. I was angry that he didnt apologize but thats an altogether different thing.

The timing of it was a little tooo coincidental for my liking-- from a bowler that did not come close to bowling another beamer all series.

[gouravk]

Oh anyone who believes it was not deliberate is being just too naive.

[flute202020]

bouncer & Jai, get some perspective guys, try to move away from your 'SG' centric world and try to support the team in its tactics. This is the biggest challenge GC is facing now, even his calculated attempts at making the opposition defensive is being attacked by our own.

Frankly, tell me, how many on this DG thinks that Shoib's action is clean? If it is indeed suspect, what is wrong in GC saying so and in the process trying to put the opposition in defensive? If a bowler is cleared, it doesn't mean, he is cleared for life and he can go and throw as much as he wants.

Watch Akthar in action and tell me GC got it wrong.

What has SG got to do with all of these1

You think GC trashing Akhtar in media is part of the team tactics and so, we need to support it as true patriotic Indians!

Well, GC starting an unnecassary controversy can not be part of a winning tactics.  And if you harp on it too much, especially now, you sound like a sore loser.

And, finally Boss, who cares about what we think about someone's bowling action. ICC did look into it, gave a clean chit, and that is that.  No point in revisiting Akhtar's , Murali's or Harbhajan's bowling action

bouncer , it is really very simply, the question is not what effect it will have, the question is weather the point raised is legitimate or not. IMHO, and also according to a lot of people on this DG, Shoib's got very suspect action , especially when he is trying to bowl fast or bounce out the batsman etc.

If you think his action is good, then good for you and no comments.

As for GC's comments, I don't think it is unneccessary controversy. With Shoib's dodgy action and his beamer( even if we think it was a slip, which I doubt), I think it is good to make some noise and put Akthar on notice. All this talk about how ICC cleared him and so there is nothing wrong with his action is simply BS. Even ICCclearly said in case of HS that once a bowler is cleared it doesn't mean he's been cleared for life.

[Jai]

Whether the story dies a natural death or not, I think it's about time BCCI tells GC what his exact role is and that he will do himself and everyone else a big favor if he sticks to it. The SL series is over. Ultimately GC will be judged by the team's performance and not by his media talks. Actually, if PCB puts pressure on BCCI, there will be some behind the room discussions. One of the regional newspapers reported a few days back that both More and GC are losing friends in BCCI because of their strong anti-SG stand. It's not going down well with a powerful section of the BCCI. I can't say whether there's any truth to that report. If you ask Prem, he'll probably laugh it off. It's up to individuals to believe it or not.

bouncer & Jai, get some perspective guys, try to move away from your 'SG' centric world and try to support the team in its tactics. This is the biggest challenge GC is facing now, even his calculated attempts at making the opposition defensive is being attacked by our own.

Frankly, tell me, how many on this DG thinks that Shoib's action is clean? If it is indeed suspect, what is wrong in GC saying so and in the process trying to put the opposition in defensive? If a bowler is cleared, it doesn't mean, he is cleared for life and he can go and throw as much as he wants.

Watch Akthar in action and tell me GC got it wrong.

Dude, it has nothing to do with our SG centric world and your GC centric world. If GC has indeed said what he had said and if the ICC law prohibits the coach of a team to say stuffs like that and if the opposition team wants to act on it, is that my fault? And why should I support GC? Why didn't he act before the series? Akhtar has been known to chuck and there was controversies earlier too. But since ICC cleared him and we played him in the past two series without complaining about anything, why raise it now? The same applies to Muralitharan. I don't like someone like Bedi raising this issue every now and then and calling him a Javelin thrower. If he's has been cleared by ICC, then we better accept it and play him. And it doesn't matter what I think about whether they chuck or not. I am just a common man. For that matter, nobody gives a rat ass if I show a middle finger to someone. But if people like GC or SRT or SG or RD does that, there will be controversies and you can't help that. IMO, GC should concentrate on his team. If he wants to say something, say it after the series, submit his report to the BCCI and ask them to take up the issue with ICC. Why now and what does he expect to happen? Does he expect the ICC to ban Shoaib from bowling in the ODI series? If not, then there's no point raising this issue once again. ICC felt negatively about Shabbir's action and they have banned him. They didn't feel the same way about Shoaib, Murali, Lee or Harbhajan. We need to accept and move ahead. Hwoever, I think Dravid did the right thing when he talked to the match referee about the constant sledging by some of the Pakistani players. It was just too much and he was within his rights to do so. He did the right thing again when SRT was pelted with water bottles and he reported it to the upmires. But let's not whine about everything.

[flute202020]

Whether the story dies a natural death or not, I think it's about time BCCI tells GC what his exact role is and that he will do himself and everyone else a big favor if he sticks to it. The SL series is over. Ultimately GC will be judged by the team's performance and not by his media talks. Actually, if PCB puts pressure on BCCI, there will be some behind the room discussions. One of the regional newspapers reported a few days back that both More and GC are losing friends in BCCI because of their strong anti-SG stand. It's not going down well with a powerful section of the BCCI. I can't say whether there's any truth to that report. If you ask Prem, he'll probably laugh it off. It's up to individuals to believe it or not.

bouncer & Jai, get some perspective guys, try to move away from your 'SG' centric world and try to support the team in its tactics. This is the biggest challenge GC is facing now, even his calculated attempts at making the opposition defensive is being attacked by our own.

Frankly, tell me, how many on this DG thinks that Shoib's action is clean? If it is indeed suspect, what is wrong in GC saying so and in the process trying to put the opposition in defensive? If a bowler is cleared, it doesn't mean, he is cleared for life and he can go and throw as much as he wants.

Watch Akthar in action and tell me GC got it wrong.

Dude, it has nothing to do with our SG centric world and your GC centric world. If GC has indeed said what he had said and if the ICC law prohibits the coach of a team to say stuffs like that and if the opposition team wants to act on it, is that my fault? And why should I support GC? Why didn't he act before the series? Akhtar has been known to chuck and there was controversies earlier too. But since ICC cleared him and we played him in the past two series without complaining about anything, why raise it now? The same applies to Muralitharan. I don't like someone like Bedi raising this issue every now and then and calling him a Javelin thrower. If he's has been cleared by ICC, then we better accept it and play him. And it doesn't matter what I think about whether they chuck or not. I am just a common man. For that matter, nobody gives a rat ass if I show a middle finger to someone. But if people like GC or SRT or SG or RD does that, there will be controversies and you can't help that. IMO, GC should concentrate on his team. If he wants to say something, say it after the series, submit his report to the BCCI and ask them to take up the issue with ICC. Why now and what does he expect to happen? Does he expect the ICC to ban Shoaib from bowling in the ODI series? If not, then there's no point raising this issue once again. ICC felt negatively about Shabbir's action and they have banned him. They didn't feel the same way about Shoaib, Murali, Lee or Harbhajan. We need to accept and move ahead. Hwoever, I think Dravid did the right thing when he talked to the match referee about the constant sledging by some of the Pakistani players. It was just too much and he was within his rights to do so. He did the right thing again when SRT was pelted with water bottles and he reported it to the upmires. But let's not whine about everything.

sure dude, go right ahead, dissect and bash away GC for every word coming out of his mouth.

[lumbalund]

bhai logon,

ek baat batao. agar Chappell Akhtar ki g***d maar raha hai to isme hum logon ke mirch kyon lag rahi hai? kya tum log ye kehna chahte ho ki Akhtar ka action sahi hai? Agar nahin, to fir Chappell ke baare mein ye maiyava thread kyon?

kya Chappell ne kuchh galat kaha hai? kya Akhtar ball fenkta nahin hai?

Mere khayal se to Chappell ne ye point uthaa kar bahut acchaa kiya hai. Ab Pakistan ke liye ek sir-dard paida ho gaya hai. Akhtar ke action ke baare mein kuch bhi sunte hi unki fat jaati hai. Chappell unko unsettell kar raha hai. ye to acchhi baat hai. isme problem kya hai?

chappell ke comment se apne bhai logon ka kya lena-dena hai? woh apni alag practice kar rahe hain, chappell alag moonh faad raha hai. lekin sahi baat par moonh faad raha hai.

[toney]

Oh anyone who believes it was not deliberate is being just too naive.

OK, I prefer to be naive in this case than accuse a bowler of something he could so easily refute. How could you be so sure that it wa intentional? I agree with Sahir's observation that the timing was rather coincidental. But so was Brett Lee's timing each time in the ODIs where he bowled beamers. He was usuallly being hit around. Cant you see it as an attempt to bowl a yorker which didnt come out the right way?

[gouravk]

I just HATE shoaib too much to believe anything like that.

[toney]

I just HATE shoaib too much to believe anything like that.

See, thats the reason. There's no reason to HATE Shoaib from an Indian point of view. Except for few matches where he was a force, Indians have handled him admirably. His famous predictions have backfired. I love Akhtar because of all this.

[gouravk]

I dont hate him from an Indian POV, more from a Pak POV. I belive he puts himself ahead of team (at least did until recently) ... he did not give his best for Inzy and I think even tried to undermine his captaincy .. all sufficient reasons for hate.

[devatha]

I dont hate him from an Indian POV, more from a Pak POV. I belive he puts himself ahead of team (at least did until recently) ... he did not give his best for Inzy and I think even tried to undermine his captaincy .. all sufficient reasons for hate.

Just the same as you like Agarkar from Pak POV, isn't it?

[gouravk]

No

[toney]

I dont hate him from an Indian POV, more from a Pak POV. I belive he puts himself ahead of team (at least did until recently) ... he did not give his best for Inzy and I think even tried to undermine his captaincy .. all sufficient reasons for hate.

Just the same as you like Agarkar from Pak POV, isn't it?

Very valid point

[gouravk]

very stupid point

[toney]

I dont hate him from an Indian POV, more from a Pak POV. I belive he puts himself ahead of team (at least did until recently) ... he did not give his best for Inzy and I think even tried to undermine his captaincy .. all sufficient reasons for hate.

Just the same as you like Agarkar from Pak POV, isn't it?

Very valid point

I find it even more valid now,

[gouravk]

even more stupid now