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[caught and bowled]

Just my thoughts. There are two good pictures of chappell working with Ganguly in recent times, which the technologically challenged I can't insert.


Only India matters
   By: Clayton Murzello
   December 2, 2006
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Greg Chappell (left) shares a few batting tips with then captain Sourav Ganguly during a practice session at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore
JOHANNESBURG: You don’t have to call in the peace-makers of the United Nations to get Indian cricket back on track.

To forget the past is to win the battle for India. To be more specific, coach Greg Chappell and Sourav Ganguly can only help matters by taking fresh guard.

It will not be the easiest of things to do in a controversy-heavy backdrop. The cricketing cliché comes to the fore. No one is greater than the game. Indeed Chappell’s differences with Ganguly and vice-versa have to take back seat.

Mutual respect

One aspect will be critical. Despite their bitter past, both parties respect each other’s abilities and influence. Ganguly knows what Chappell can do to his flagging career and the coach knows that the Bengal man’s fighting qualities can change things.

They only have to turn back the clock to 2003 when Ganguly sought out Chappell in his quest to be a better player and Chappell made some difference in that Sydney meeting. Ganguly scored a magnificent hundred in Brisbane a few months later. He did it through his God-given gifts and grit but the Chappell factor could not be reckoned without.

Want to prove

 
 
Greg Chappell bowls to Sourav Ganguly at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
As much as we expect Ganguly to be a good team man, we expect Chappell to approach Ganguly’s entry with an open mind. The fact that the selectors had to look to him for some credibility in the batting order means that they expect him to perform.

The rest of the team will have to play the part too.

Cynical views notwithstanding, the team is capable of bouncing back to show that they can be worthy performers. The World Cup is a common but good example.

An insider, who was close to the team during the 2003 mega event told MiD DAY yesterday the thought of being thrown out of the Super Sixes haunted the team and they were determined to prove that they were better than that.

No manager

Before the Chappell-Ganguly bust up, the coach stressed that the India captain was very keen to improve his batting before the series in 2003 and credit for that should go only to him. How we would love to see Chappell and Ganguly in the nets. It will give this great game a noble name. There is no better joy for coach and player to see the hard yards eventuate into success.

It is a pity that the Indian cricket board continues to do away with a permanent manager. That individual would have played a vital role in getting Chappell and Ganguly to work again.

Save India

The downside is that Ganguly is not in the best of territory to make a fairytale comeback. South Africa is one of the hardest places to win at cricket. But for Chappell and Ganguly to say at the end of the tour that they gave it their best shot would be victory for Indian cricket.

We don’t live in an ideal world and it would be foolhardy to expect both to travel all over South Africa hand in hand. But a professional relationship they MUST enjoy.

Every relationship deserves a second chance. Why not Chappell and Ganguly?

And yes, the time for personal battles is over. Now is the time to save Indian cricket at all costs. 
 

[suraj]

c&b,

Easiest way to post pics is

1. Right click on the pic in the web page- then click properties- you will see a URL address http://........
Highlight and copy this address

2. Then in your message click the image icon (2nd one above the smileys)

3. Paste the URL address between the [img] and [img]- you are all set then

[vincent]

Suraj,

Also I had problems with this. I had uploaded the image first onto the gallery. If the image you want to paste does not have an URL and is in your computer files, how do you paste it here?

[caught and bowled]

Suraj, thanks a lot. It worked. Pictures inserted...