Ian Chappell in print is a copy machine, continually churning out quotable headlines via contentious remarks and, if you accept he's got axes to grind, venting vitriol. Ian Chappell on telly is a snore-a-minute bore. WHY? Chappelli, your country's viewers need you.
Today he's into the baggy green:
FORMER Test skipper Ian Chappell has joined the baggy green debate, labelling it a "$5 piece of cloth" overly glorified under Steve Waugh's captaincy.
"There is too much made of the baggy green," Chappell said.
"All touring players used to wear it whether they played a Test or not. It has been overdone."
"I guess there is some credit to Brad Haddin that he didn't want to wear one before he played a Test match, but he could have put a white cricket hat on."
Chappell said reverence for the baggy green, inspired by former captain Waugh, bordered on overkill.
"It is a cap, a nice cap, but has only become more than a cap since Steve Waugh started to jump up and down about it," said Chappell, who retired in 1980.
"Cricket memorabilia has also played its part, going for ridiculous prices. It is a $5 bit of cloth. I haven't got one, haven't had one since the day I finished. I don't need to look at an Australian cap to remind me of what I did."
I gots ta say it: I agree.
Sort of.
Big deal if the players wear VB caps in a trial match. It's not as if they would completely replace the BG caps, which are only worn en masse at the start of a Test and are largely restricted to ceremonial duties. New players get presented with one before a Test, the players wear them out at the start of play, and then as the day progresses, some keep them on, while others put on their Cancer Council approved, Greg Chappell autographed, stiff-brimmed, slip-slop-slap hats.
Having said that, why did the players opt for uniformity in a trial match? If they'd all worn their usual hats/caps, including Haddin wearing whatever he wears, no one would have batted an eyelid. Well, actually, why is rhetorical given the correct answer is fistful of moolah: "CUB, the brewer that passes off VB as the quintessential Aussie beer, have been good to Cricket Australia and so why not do them a favour in return?" The Aussie hierarchy should have realised that wearing the caps, while not of itself a bad thing in the circs, would not play well image-wise back in Straya.
Still, it's not surprising BG caps get up Chappelli's bugle. The implication of Steve Waugh's "jumping up and down about it" is that Waugh was big on tradition and the honour of playing for Australia, while Chappelli wasn't.
Chappelli is right about the memorabilia, too. He's from Channel Nine, after all, so he should be an expert. (Who wouldn't love to hear him bag memorabilia on air. "Tony, that replica bat is just a $5 piece of wood.") The bigger the song and dance the players make over their BG caps, the greater the value they will attract when it comes time to cash them in.
If Australia turned out in VB caps, I would have been disgusted. When the Australians are playing, I don't care what they adorn their heads with. I just hope Haydos is fit after straining his leg carrying his wallet out of India.
ps : I am applying for the job of AGB correspondent on the ground in the Caribbean - but will try to avoid doing a Fatcat.
Posted by: nick | 22 May 2008 at 12:37
Well given the probable future of quicket, the VB/KFC/ING/3 caps will bear as much national ID as the BG.
Posted by: boynton | 22 May 2008 at 13:01
Ha ha. Ho ho. It is to laugh:
Posted by: Tony T | 22 May 2008 at 13:02
B: They will soon be wearing Crazy John heads instead of helmets.
Posted by: Tony T | 22 May 2008 at 13:04
Ian "I am totally against the introduction of 3rd umpire video replays" Chappell is a grade A knob swallower.
I distinctly remember him having a big old cry a few years ago when he spied the 13th man for Oz on the field wearing an official piece of Oz head gear. Christ, he's got some brass, and about as relevant as Sam Newman.
I think his whinge might have even included the words "back in my day…"
Posted by: Big Ramifications | 25 May 2008 at 21:47
His whinge would have certainly included the words "back in my day... Les Favell said."
Posted by: Tony T. | 25 May 2008 at 22:28
Les! Good call.
This is opposed to me distinctly remembering DK getting a wicket with his 1st ball of his comeback... erm... playing for the Tassie Knight Riders in the Indian Indoor Premiarr Cricket League.
Posted by: Big Ramifications | 25 May 2008 at 22:49
uh-oh, poor Chappelli wants attention again. Fucken idiot
Posted by: Tex | 27 May 2008 at 12:35