Chappell

Johannesburg: Team India coach Greg Chappell spoke to select Indian publications (including The Telegraph) on Tuesday afternoon. The interaction lasted almost 90 minutes.

The following are excerpts:

It wasn’t easy... But, then, you lose a big advantage (in Tests) if you don’t choose to bat after winning the toss... Rahul made a courageous decision.

On the most crucial partnership

The one between Rahul and Sachin Tendulkar, which added 69 for the third-wicket in the first innings. If they’d gone early, we may not even have scored 100. Let’s face it, the wicket wasn’t easy.

On what the 123-run victory holds for the rest of the series

It’s a big confidence booster... (After a pause) Where our ODI performances are concerned, the truth is somewhere between the extremes — our excellent run at the start of the year and the recent losses. However, it’s amazing what confidence can do and what a lack of confidence does.

On whether the ODI defeats affected the process he has been trying to put in place

Definitely slowed down the discussions...

On team spirit remaining high despite the 0-4 rout in the ODIs

That’s the best thing and it happened in the West Indies as well, when we came back to win the Test series after the 1-4 loss. In Pakistan, too, we won the ODIs after being defeated in a hard-fought Test series... What I’ve seen is that the Indians (by nature) are resilient.

On the seniors beginning to play a bigger role off the field as well

For a team to be good, a strong leadership group is required... We had a meeting in Potchefstroom where it was decided that, from then on, things had to come from within the group... The coaching staff had done what it could do and, now, it was time for the leadership group to take over... The players had a meeting where the coaching staff wasn’t present and they understood the need to get better and stronger... Rahul involved the seniors (in a bigger way) as it’s not possible for one man to do everything. The responsibility of captaining, including the emotional side, had become too much... The workload, the mentoring... It had to be shared... Obviously, the win there was important, but that in itself wasn’t the turning point.

On having a leadership group

It certainly is an Australian thing, but wasn’t as well defined (within Team India) as it is now. For example, the key moments in a game have to be grasped out on the field — by the leadership group. One needs leadership across the team: Among the seniors, at the middle level and among the juniors.

On whether Virender Sehwag, who was vice-captain till the ODIs, didn’t discharge responsibilities

It wasn’t that... But even two can’t do the job, you need four-five seniors... (After a pause) I don’t know why he lost the vice-captaincy and I don’t have a comment.

On India’s pace attack delivering at the Wanderers despite being short on experience

We’ve been asking the boys to do a man’s job... Sree did it, but it will be tough to do it again (soon). The physical and emotional strain on him was huge. Backing up day after day isn’t easy, more so as the grounding hasn’t been there in domestic cricket.

On MoM Sreesanth

Always knew he had the ability... We’d been impressing on him that pace isn’t the most important thing... Consistency is important, not bowling magic balls... That it’s all about how consistently you’re able to land the ball in the right areas... Sree’s seam position was perfect and came out beautifully... I haven’t seen anybody do that with the same degree of consistency... He managed it six times in an over... You won’t be successful if you’re looking to (aggressively) take a wicket on every ball... Good batsmen are able to handle pace, what they can’t is variety... Good bowlers work out the length they need to bowl and Sree was superb. Munaf (Patel) learnt it quickly in the West Indies...

On Sreesanth’s interaction with the legendary Allan Donald before play on the second day

The beauty is that Donald talked about the thought process rather than the physical process. It’s all very well to understand mechanics, but the engine of the mechanics is the brain and, really, the thought process drives the mechanics. What Sree understood is that he had to bowl one good ball after another.

On Sourav Ganguly’s comeback

He has always been a strong character and his will and desire to play for India has been second to none... At one team meeting, Sourav revealed that the realisation that cricket wasn’t everything in life had taken the pressure off him... If you think that every innings is (all) important, then you won’t bat with freedom... Sourav, I think, is more relaxed now.

On whether the victory at the Wanderers has given him a fresh perspective on ODIs

(Laughs as the question coincided with his taking time to have water) Can’t say why it took me time! We’re always reviewing the situation and it’s about getting the best team... The demands (of ODIs) are different... So , what works for the Test team doesn’t necessarily work for the one-day team... The win has given us options to think about, but there’s time... Realistically, we should look to make the World Cup semi-finals... From then on, any team may win. When the teams land in the West Indies, even the best won’t be guaranteed to take the Cup home.

On whether he would be willing to compromise in the ODIs

You’ve got to be prepared to compromise at all stages in life... Runs made is more important than runs saved on the field, but there’s a balance that’s non-negotiable... We’re trying to get that balance right... I’m not the only one involved with selection, there are six others.... I’m definitely going to place my views strongly, but at the end of the day, I’m just the coach and have to work with the team that’s given to me. I’m happy doing that... I won’t stand on a philosophical argument which doesn’t give us the best chance of winning the World Cup.

On how he reacts to criticism

Same as everyone else... Don’t enjoy it any more than anybody else does... But worrying won’t help... There are certain things that I understand are important, but I can’t expect everybody else to (a) agree with them or (b) understand them... (After a pause) It depends where the criticism comes from... I’m more likely to take note of critical comments from some...

On the emotions he went through when the team kept losing ODIs

I was frustrated, dejected... All the emotions came to the fore, but the reality had to be faced and work had to be done... Occasionally, shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic is what you’ve got to do... I recall there were days as captain when I didn’t have a clue left. If you show that, though, then you’re gone as that emotional state is contagious. As coach, I can’t display that publicly... Throwing the baby out with the bath water wasn’t an option as, within reason, we had pretty much the best group.

On whether his personality intimidates some players

That’s why, in the coaching and support staff, nobody has the same personality... There are times when I get (biomechanist) Ian Frazer to convey a message, for I’m the wrong person to do so... Ian and I have different personalities, but don’t think differently and I know he won’t convey mixed messages... Our masseur (Ramesh Mane) is a key member of the support staff as players often come to him when they’re down... He massages their minds, too, and does convey messages — of course, not like a secret agent! Fact is some relate to me better than others. Equally, I relate better to some... Some players can take a strong message and deal with it, others can’t... That’s the way it is...

Finally, on what have recent weeks taught him the most

That certain issues needed to be addressed and it’s good we had to do it now rather than closer to the World Cup. It will stand us in good stead.