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Former Indian coach Greg Chappell has caused a stir on his return to the subcontinent with the Australian team, but he says it will be nothing against the torrent of runs he expects from Ricky Ponting in next month’s Tests.
Chappell, accused in the past of being unable to identify with players of lesser abilities than his own, can see in his batting peer the sort of steely attitude that usually results in runs.
All Ponting must do, Chappell believes, is stay to true to the methods that have brought him handsome success everywhere else in the world.
“I can see a steely glint in his eye and I always worry about that when I see good players that that means there’s a few runs around the corner – If I was the Indian team and I wanted to worry about something I’d worry about that,” Chappell said today.
“I can honestly say that I don’t think there’s very much wrong with Ricky Ponting at all. Ricky’s got a great record all round the world, he’s conscious of the fact his record here is not as good as elsewhere and he knows what he has to do.
“Most of the interaction I’ve had with Ricky has not really been about his own batting, it’s been more about the overall group and the overall planning.
“The only discussion we’ve had about it is he initiated the comment that basically what he has to do is trust his method.
“It works everywhere else, if he trusts his method and applies it here, I’ve no doubt he’ll be successful.
“There’s probably been a few occasions in India where he’s got away from that method and that’s perhaps been part of the issue of performance in India.”
All of India has been fretting over the influence Chappell has had and will have on Australian readiness for the four-Test series, starting in Bangalore on October 9.
The level of fuss has amused a man who became acutely aware of the level of attention available to Indian cricketers when he coached the national team to mixed results, ending his time with the disastrous 2007 World Cup campaign.
“I’ve been amused by some of the discussion that’s gone on,” he said.
“I’m flattered by the fact people think I can wave a magic wand and change things.
“Success in cricket is about hard work and doing the basics well and, to be quite honest, that’s my role with the Australian team, to focus on those areas, the sorts of things they need to do to have success in India.
“I think people are overly nervous and concerned about something that might not happen.”
As for the tour, Chappell said he expected new stars to emerge from the Australian squad, much as they had done in past eras.
“Historically through Australian cricket, whenever that opportunity has presented somebody has stepped up, and that’s the hope for this series that there are a number of young players who will take this opportunity,” he said.
“Somebody I’m sure we haven’t heard much about will finish this series and then be touted as a new star for Australian cricket.”
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