Posted by
Ech Kay
at
11:22 PM
I hate discussing cricket. We have an entire nation that thrives on discussions about the game. I hate discussing cricket, not because I can't understand the sport, but because I find the activity absolutely futile. The point that I intend to put forward in this post, is beyond the game. Understand this, and then proceed.
Of late there has been a hue and cry in the Indian media about Greg Chappell's role as assistant coach during Australia's current tour of India. Greg Chappell is expected to stay with the Australian cricket team till the end of their tour of India; and assist the Aussies in adapting to the conditions and develop their game plan.
Over the last week, the Indian media has gone to town, alleging that Greg Chappell has switched loyalties and acted unprofessionally. It is very well known that the Indian media survives on controversy and that they will blow any news out of proportion to derive maximum mileage in the form of increased audience and TRP ratings.
The media has alleged that Chappell might pass on vital information about the Indian players and playing conditions to the Aussies; which will benefit them immensely. It must be recollected that Greg Chappell was the coach of the Indian national cricket team for 2 years from 2005 to 2007. The media has harped about Chappell's unprofessional ways and has gone to the extent of terming him a "traitor" to India.
I don't see anything wrong in Greg Chappell working with the Aussies, after working as coach of the Indian cricket team. What the media needs to understand is that Greg Chappell has not acted unprofessionally in any way. He had signed a contract with the BCCI as the national coach for a stipulated period of time, and fulfilled his duties to the best of his abilities. That his tenure was marked by controversies, is another issue. Once Chappell quit his duty as the national coach, he was free to move on and join any other job of his choice. That he chose to work with the Aussies for the forthcoming tour, might have implications that he might have done so for vendetta; but then this doesn't imply that he has been unprofessional in any way.
Moreover, what if Chappell does pass on vital information about Indian players to the Aussies? In the end, once the game starts it shall all boil down to what happens in the middle. Any amount of planning is rendered ineffective once the first ball is bowled.
Here, I would like to draw your attention to India's present national cricket coach - Gary Kirsten. Kirsten took over as Indian coach at the beginning of 2008. Interestingly, his first full assignment was against the the South African team that had toured India for a test and ODI series in March 2008. Ironically, the same Indian media at that time had chattered about Gary Kirsten's presence in the Indian dressing room and how his insights about the South African players would benefit the Indians. Where had all the bullshit about loyalty and "professionalism" gone then? Even then, the South African media had not whined about Kirsten's role with the Indian side.
That the Indian media shows such double standards when dealing with individuals and events, is indeed a shame. The mediamen need to learn some professionalism themselves. Else, they'll end up getting the middle finger more often from people like Greg Chappell; which they truly deserve.
-HK
11:20 pm; 28th September '08
Permalink
Of late there has been a hue and cry in the Indian media about Greg Chappell's role as assistant coach during Australia's current tour of India. Greg Chappell is expected to stay with the Australian cricket team till the end of their tour of India; and assist the Aussies in adapting to the conditions and develop their game plan.
Over the last week, the Indian media has gone to town, alleging that Greg Chappell has switched loyalties and acted unprofessionally. It is very well known that the Indian media survives on controversy and that they will blow any news out of proportion to derive maximum mileage in the form of increased audience and TRP ratings.
The media has alleged that Chappell might pass on vital information about the Indian players and playing conditions to the Aussies; which will benefit them immensely. It must be recollected that Greg Chappell was the coach of the Indian national cricket team for 2 years from 2005 to 2007. The media has harped about Chappell's unprofessional ways and has gone to the extent of terming him a "traitor" to India.
I don't see anything wrong in Greg Chappell working with the Aussies, after working as coach of the Indian cricket team. What the media needs to understand is that Greg Chappell has not acted unprofessionally in any way. He had signed a contract with the BCCI as the national coach for a stipulated period of time, and fulfilled his duties to the best of his abilities. That his tenure was marked by controversies, is another issue. Once Chappell quit his duty as the national coach, he was free to move on and join any other job of his choice. That he chose to work with the Aussies for the forthcoming tour, might have implications that he might have done so for vendetta; but then this doesn't imply that he has been unprofessional in any way.
Moreover, what if Chappell does pass on vital information about Indian players to the Aussies? In the end, once the game starts it shall all boil down to what happens in the middle. Any amount of planning is rendered ineffective once the first ball is bowled.
Here, I would like to draw your attention to India's present national cricket coach - Gary Kirsten. Kirsten took over as Indian coach at the beginning of 2008. Interestingly, his first full assignment was against the the South African team that had toured India for a test and ODI series in March 2008. Ironically, the same Indian media at that time had chattered about Gary Kirsten's presence in the Indian dressing room and how his insights about the South African players would benefit the Indians. Where had all the bullshit about loyalty and "professionalism" gone then? Even then, the South African media had not whined about Kirsten's role with the Indian side.
That the Indian media shows such double standards when dealing with individuals and events, is indeed a shame. The mediamen need to learn some professionalism themselves. Else, they'll end up getting the middle finger more often from people like Greg Chappell; which they truly deserve.
-HK
11:20 pm; 28th September '08
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Labels:
Australia
,
controversy
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cricket
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Gary Kirsten
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Greg Chappell
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Indian coach
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media
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middle finger
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unprofessional behaviour
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