In the history of ODI World Cups, rarely has an edition turned out to be as poor as the 2007 edition in West Indies. India were the runners-up of the 2003 edition and were expected to do well in 2007 too. However, what happened was exact opposite. India could not go past the initial stage from a group that had Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda. India could win only one game against Bermuda and were knocked out. Greg Chappell was the coach in that edition and former India player Robin Uthappa said that the environment of the team was not not good. 

“Us team ka mahool bahut kharab tha (The environment of that team was very bad). What I like about cricket the most is that there is a magic in making 15 stars play and work towards one direction. At the ODI World Cup, an Aussies was out coach.  

“As a youngster, Greg Chappell was very good to me. I just entered the team. I was young, and he used to back youngsters. As a 20-year-old kid, with a dream was to play for India, win for India, hopefully one World Cup I will win for India,” said Uthappa on Lallantop.

“When you get that opportunity to play for the country, you feel like boss. You don’t need anything else. I will give everything for my team. I played with that mindset.”

Uthappa said that Chappell had an agenda driven mode of operation during his time with the Indian cricket team.  

“It think it was an agenda driven thing. He was coaching with an Aussie mindset, saying, ‘This is how we do things in Australia. ‘ I don’t think he ever respected Indian culture. He came in and tried to bring the Australian culture. The environment of that team was very bad.

“It was during the Greg Chappell era when strength training was introduced. In Australia, it already existed. Greg Chappell saw that missing in India. Fitness was not the way of life. He was trying to bring in change.

“At that point, he found resistance from the seniors. They were not used to the fact that here is a guy coming and imposing things on us without showing us the basis respect that is shown,” he added.

“He also had a bad habit of leaking information when things didn’t go according to his plans. That didn’t run well with the players. He leaked dressing room information,” he added.

 

Former Australian cricketer Greg Chappell heaped praises on young England batter Harry Brook, comparing his performances and approach to legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Brook is one of the newest faces of world cricket, having made a name for himself with some impactful knocks across all formats. Tests are Brook’s best format so far and he would be looking to make an impact in the Ashes series against Australia away from home later this year.

In 24 Tests, he has made 2,281 runs at an average of 58.48, with eight centuries and 10 fifties in 40 innings. His best score is 317. While these numbers are eye-catchy, it is his away-from-home statistics that are truly mind-boggling. In 11 away Tests, he has scored 1,520 runs at an average of 80.00, with seven centuries and four fifties. His best score is 317.

Writing in his column for Sydney Morning Herald, Chappell wrote that under the “bold and transformative leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum”, the England team is not only rebuilding, but is surging ahead with a team that “looks equipped to dominate for a generation.”

“Central to this optimism is the emergence of Harry Brook, a batting sensation whose performances and approach I compare to the great Sachin Tendulkar. Remarkably, Brook’s early career stats suggest he might even have outpaced the Indian maestro in terms of impact at the same stage,” he added.

Chappell lauded Brook for his “simple but devastatingly effective batting method” that has made him one of the most talked about players in the world at the age of 25.

“Much like Tendulkar in his early years, Brook does not move excessively in the crease before the ball is delivered. His stability and minimalistic technique allow him to read the angles of the bowler and adjust his strokes with precision. The result? An extraordinary ability to score from most deliveries, whether they are pitched full, short or on an awkward length,” he added.

Chappell also pointed out that Tendulkar’s brilliance in his prime was mainly scoring on both sides of wicket and using a bowler’s pace to his advantage.

“Brook, though a bigger and more powerful player physically, has a strikingly similar ability to manipulate the field with wristy flicks, crunching drives, and punishing back-foot shots. It is a simple method, but simplicity often breeds greatness,” he added.

Chappell further drew a comparison between the first 15 Tests of both Brook and Sachin, with Sachin having scored 837 runs at an average of just under 40 with two centuries, as compared to Brook, who scored 1,378 runs at an average of almost 60, with five tons.

“To be fair, Sachin was still a teenager while Brook is in his mid-20s,” he added.

Chappell said that Brook’s ability to “combine aggression with consistency” makes him an absolute nightmare to bowl to.

“Much like Tendulkar, he’s incredibly hard to contain. For England, he is not just a bright prospect, he is a player around whom their future could be built,” he added.

Chappell also noted that under Stokes, England is playing with an “infectious swagger”.

“They do not just aim to win, they aim to dominate. This attitude, coupled with McCullum’s aggressive philosophies, has allowed England to forge a fearless and entertaining team identity.”

“Brook embodies this new ethos: he bats with a sense of inevitability. Bowlers know he will score, but they do not know how to stop him. This psychological edge cannot be overstated. By the time Brook walks to the crease, the fielding side is already under pressure,” he concluded.

The five-match Ashes series will begin in Perth on November 21, with the remaining four Tests to be held in Brisbane (day-night Test), Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

England have not won a series in Australia since 2010/11, with the most recent series between the two rivals ending tied at 2-2 on English soil last year.

The series will form a crucial part of the next ICC World Test Championship period (2025-27), with Australia having won the mace in 2023 and England yet to feature in the final.

England haven’t held the Ashes since they won on home soil in 2015 under the captaincy of former opener Alastair Cook.

Series schedule:

First Test: Perth Stadium, November 21-25

Second Test: Gabba, December 4-8

Third Test: Adelaide Oval, December 17-21

Fourth Test: MCG, December 26-30

Fifth Test: SCG, January 4-8.

Travis Head is the “best batter in the world” whose performances against Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy exemplify his fearless approach and “Australian way of batting”, feels legendary cricketer Greg Chappell. Head has dominated the batting chart with 409 runs in the first three Tests with two hundreds and a fifty, and former Australia captain Chappell believes his simplicity and aggression are behind his success as a Test batter. “Head’s performances against Jasprit Bumrah in this series exemplify his fearless approach. While most batsmen struggle to survive Bumrah’s unorthodox action, sharp pace, and relentless accuracy, Head has treated him like any other bowler,” Chappell wrote in Sydney Morning Herald.

“By playing with intent and looking to score off Bumrah, Head has not only nullified his threat but disrupted his rhythm. His ability to dispatch short deliveries with authority and drive fuller ones with precision has been remarkable, underscoring the strides he has made,” he added.

Chappell said Head’s flourish in the recent years across formats is due to an uncluttered mindset.

“From a raw, unpredictable talent to one of the most dominant male batters in world cricket, Travis Head has soared into his prime with an almost ethereal elegance,” Chappell wrote.

“His story is not just about overcoming challenges but about embracing a simplicity of style that has become his hallmark — one that allows his mind to remain uncluttered and his game devastatingly effective,” he added.

Chappell termed Head’s 152 against England in the 2021-22 series as the “turning point”.

“The turning point came during the 2021 Ashes. Head’s counterattacking 152 in Brisbane was a revelation. Walking in at 5-195, he transformed the game with a whirlwind innings, taking the opposition bowlers apart and shifting the momentum firmly in Australia’s favour,” he wrote.

“That innings wasn’t just about runs, it was a statement of intent, a declaration that he would play his way.” Chappell believes Head is one of the most feared batters in the world who can dictate terms against the best bowlers.

“Since that series, Head has gone from strength to strength, evolving into one of the most feared batsmen in the world.

“His numbers since 2022 underline his dominance: 1800 runs at an average of 56.25, with six centuries at a strike rate of 75.6. These are not just impressive figures, they are a testament to his ability to thrive under pressure and dictate terms against the best bowlers in the world,” Chappell added.

Chappell praised the 30-year-old left-handed batter for prioritising intent over caution.

“The essence of Travis Head’s batting lies in his uncluttered mind. He has chosen a path that prioritises intent over caution, a mindset that allows him to approach every ball with the aim of scoring runs,” he wrote.

“This doesn’t mean recklessness – it’s a calculated, efficient approach that keeps bowlers and captains under pressure. By getting into good positions to score, Head simultaneously positions himself to defend against the better deliveries. It’s a virtuous cycle that rewards his positive intent,” he added.

Chappell said Head’s ability to strike balance between aggression and elegance are the qualities which also make him a captaincy candidate in future.

“What sets Head apart is his ability to blend aggression with elegance. He has always been a powerful player of cross-bat shots, but his recent improvement in driving full deliveries down the ground has elevated his game,” he wrote.

“I believe Travis to be the most improved batter in world cricket in the past three years and in becoming so, has firmed in favouritism to be the next Australian captain.

“In his current form, Travis exemplifies the Australian way of batting, and I agree with Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy when they praise the way he is playing.

“Today, as the butterfly of his transformation soars, it’s clear: Travis Head is the best batsman in the world.”

Yashasvi Jaiswal looks well-placed to carry forward the glorious legacy of batting excellence established by the likes of Sachin Tendukar and Virat Kohli, said former India coach Greg Chappell, waxing eloquent on the country’s cricketing infrastructure and planning. Writing in his column for the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, Chappell said he was highly impressed with Jaiswal, who smashed a 161-run knock in the opening Test against Australia in Perth to be one among the architects of the visitors’ 295-run win on Sunday.

“The young opener is fearless and appears poised to inherit the mantle of Indian batting excellence, following the likes of Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar,” Chappell wrote.

Chappell, who worked as India head coach between 2005-2007, also spoke about the wide gulf in planning between the Indian and Australian cricketing establishment when it came to grooming youngsters for traditional formats.

“Jaiswal’s journey encapsulates why India’s planning and infrastructure give them a clear edge in world cricket. The young left-hander moved to Mumbai at 10, seeking the best competition to realise his dream of representing India,” Chappell wrote.

“Considering the staggering odds of breaking into the Indian XI, his determination is remarkable. There are so many players in India who are good enough to play Test cricket, but some can’t even get a game for their state team,” said the former skipper, who had a fair idea about India’s domestic structure.

Chappell then presented numbers to compare Jaiswal with 25-year-old Australian debutant Nathan McSweeney, who hasn’t yet played much despite being older than Jaiswal.

“A comparison with Australia’s Nathan McSweeney is illuminating. At 22, Jaiswal has played 14 Tests, 30 first-class matches, 32 List A games, and 53 IPL matches. By contrast, McSweeney, at 25, has just made his debut Test, with just 34 first-class, 22 List A, and 18 T20 matches under his belt.” Chappell, who shared a fantastic working relationship with the then captain Rahul Dravid during his days in India, lauded his junior cricket programme at the National Cricket Academy.

He believes that Indian cricket’s junior red-ball programme is second to none with opportunities to play multiple matches. At times, he has felt that when India U-19 played other teams, it seemed “men were playing with boys” in terms of game awareness.

“India’s system prioritised long-form cricket at the youth level under Rahul Dravid’s leadership. This focus ensures that players are well-versed in the nuances of the game.

“In contrast, Australia’s system limits opportunities for young cricketers, prioritising school commitments over competition during much of the year,” he noted.

Chappell also recalled his interaction with a young Sarfaraz Khan some years back.

“When I asked a young Sarfaraz Khan – who has played six Tests for India but can’t break into this team – about the balance between cricket and school for him as a then 16-year-old, he said, ‘Oh, I don’t go to school, I can go to school later if I want to, but I only get one chance at cricket’,” he recalled.

Chappell, who has worked extensively in Cricket Australia’s junior talent programme, warned the stakeholders that lack of competitive matches would hurt development of young players.

“The lack of competitive matches at a young age leaves Australian players less prepared to handle the demands of international cricket. No amount of net practice can replicate the experience gained from playing meaningful games.

“Without significant changes to our development pathways, we risk falling further behind.”

Greg Chappell has penned a heartfelt note to out-of-favour batter Prithvi Shaw.© AFP