Dravid and Chappell will have to deliver

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

It was an elated Rahul Dravid who received the good news that he has been appointed the new captain of the Indian cricket team.

Dravid who is sporting the World XI colours in the Super series Test in Sydney sported a broad smile when he was informed of his appointment.

For this stylish and committed batsman, it was double celebrations. First his wife gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, followed by the news that he was appointed captain. However it is not going to be a bed of roses for Dravid.

With Dravid's elevation, Indian cricket would be looking to scale new heights in both versions of the game. First along with coach Greg Chappell he would be aiming for the next World Cup and thereafter to be the number one in the established game.

One hopes that at last the uncertainty that hung over Indian cricket is now over. When Chappell and former skipper Sourav Ganguly entered the ring and went for each other trading ugly punches, Indian cricket lay in shame.

The captain and the coach who first began hitting each other below the belt in Zimbabwe, continued their brawl back in India and it needed a panel to summon the two fighters and ask them to mend fences and continue for the sake of the game.

What happened between the coach and the captain was never before heard or witnessed in cricket crazy India, It is said that sport is the great leveller, and one might ask whether Ganguly and Chappell were ignorant of this axiom that made them trade verbal blows.

With the captain and the coach bringing out the ugly side of the game, it was apparent that one had to go. Both being there would have meant that Indian cricket would suffer and be not only the loser but also the laughing stock of the cricketing world.

With both warriors refusing to give in, it needed an injury - described as a 'tennis elbow' to Ganguly for the brawl to end. The injury meant that Ganguly would not be available for selection for sometime.

That injury saved the blushes of the selectors and the Indian Cricket Board and the selectors led by former wicket keeper Kiran More when they sat would have been at peace because they would not have had any hassle to face as Dravid would have been the obvious choice for the top slot as captain.

Now that the worst is over and seemingly Chappell having his way, it is now up for the former Australian batting great and captain to show his skills in coaching and change the face of Indian cricket and make things happen.

Not to do so would mean to earn the wrath of the Indian cricket followers who are legion and be in the land where Ganguly is now in - the land of has beens.

For Ganguly, a folklore hero in India, the troubles began when owing to silly ICC rules he was suspended from the game, because his side bowled slow over rates.

But Ganguly while bowing out does so with flying colours. He is the most successful captain that India had produced. Anyway the gut feeling is that Ganguly would not easily fade away. A known fighter he is sure to bid for a place in the team even as a batsman.

Technology a necessary evil

The Super Series Test between Australia and the World XI finished in Sydney with the Aussies rubbing the World XI in the dust at the SCG in under four days as they buried their opponents in the Telstra Dome in Melbourne in the one-dayers. It was a mockery.

In this Test, ICC has allowed the umpires the use of technology. The two umpires Simon Taufel and Rudi Koetzen have constantly been referring decisions to the third umpire Darrel Hair for a ruling. But what is nauseating is that this has gone to waste so much time.

The third umpire must give the right decision. For him to do this he must run and re-run the action. That takes time and he cannot be blamed.

If the ICC insists on umpires using technology in future, then they would be forced to play six day Tests. The present six day Test could be an indication.

The umpires are already wired up and if this trend continues, it would not be long where there would be no need for umpires, or they would only be counting the number of balls bowled.