He caught the fancy of an entire nation like very few ever have. He went from the man who would save Indian cricket to the one who seemingly shoved it into a dark abyss. When the Australian team touched down in India for their four-Test series last night, most eyes, and cameras, were trained on one man – Greg Chappell.
Chappell, who was recently appointed head coach at the Center of Excellence in Brisbane has been roped in by Cricket Australia as an assistant coach for the Indian series.
So what exactly will Chappell's role be in the forthcomings series? Will he provide a relatively inexperienced Aussie line-up vital inputs and information on the Indians and devise ways of undoing his former confidants?
Well, Brett Lee sure hopes so.
"Him being a former India coach was certainly one of the reasons in his coming, but having Greg Chappell will undoubtedly help the team. He has achieved a lot in his career and his experience his second to one. And while he will help the guys with the batting and fielding drills, his experience will definitely help us," Lee said. "He is a key member of the Australian side."
And though Chappell is still a consultant with the Rajasthan Cricket Association's Centre of Excellence, Lee made it very clear that during this tour, Chappell's allegiance lay with the Baggy Green.
{{/usCountry}}And though Chappell is still a consultant with the Rajasthan Cricket Association's Centre of Excellence, Lee made it very clear that during this tour, Chappell's allegiance lay with the Baggy Green.
{{/usCountry}}"He is here wearing our colours and that is great," Lee said. "What he's done with the Indian team is brilliant, but he's moved on and taken up a new challenge, and that is great for us. We will definitely be picking his brains to get every little bit of detail we can out of him," he added.
And though it might not be as big an advantage as it seems like now, but the men from Down Under have with them a man who could yet hold an ace or two up his sleeve.
The Indians have been warned.