CHAPPELLA

So Ian Chappell's daughter Amanda would have done a better job coaching Straya than John Buchanan.

Ian Chappell launches attack on John Buchanan

TEST great Ian Chappell yesterday launched an extraordinary attack on John Buchanan, claiming his own daughter, Amanda, could have done a better job than the former Australian coach.

In response to radio talkback that Warne could not have worked with Buchanan had he been Australian captain, Chappell replied: "It's a simple decision. The captain is 95 per cent important, the coach is 5 per cent important. Guess who I am going to worry about first?"

"Shane Warne would have been a magnificent captain for Australia."

"A lot of people refer to John Buchanan's record as coach. How many wickets and how many catches and how many runs did he make?"

"He didn't make any. His contribution to those victories in my opinion is absolutely nil."

"Is someone going to tell me that if my daughter had coached Australia, would the results have been any different?"

"I am here to tell you the results wouldn't have been any different at all. In fact, they might have been better without him there."

What's biting Chappell? Again he's taking pot-shots at Buchanan in particular, and coaching in general. Surely it's past time he accepted cricket's moved on since "Les Favell told me." It's not hard to see why Warne shoots his mouth off, that's what he does; what's more, Buchanan regularly tuned him. But Chappell? Build a bridge and get over yourself, pal.

No wonder I just discovered this: "ian chappell" wanker.

Comments

[Scott Wickstein]

Well, when you pay writers per word, you get quantity over quality. Ian Chappell is paid per opinion, and again, you get quantity over quality. While Ned Flanders does come out with some pretty zany ideas, it seems to me that he's been a positive contributor to the team. He got the job at the behest of Steve Waugh and always had Waugh's confidence. Seems that he had Punter's confidence too. Given that they have been the actual men in charge, that's good enough for me.

And when you get the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Mike Hussey coming out in Flanders' defence, that is a good sign as well.

So... what about Chappell? He's probably got to have what the Couldabeens would say is a 'good hard look at himself'. When you become known as a cheerleader for Shane Warne, it doesn't speak very highly of Chappell as a judge of character (as apart from cricketer). Those bright young modern people would say that Chappell has 'issues'. I think they are right, and the sooner he gets over those 'issues' the better for everyone.

[Lad Litter]

Look, I quite enjoy Chappel's reminiscing during commentary but feel he's wrong-headed about Buchanan and coaching. However, I do think,without speaking for Chappell,that his traditional leaning towards captaincy over coaches is an understandable point of view, however dated.

[nick]

India have gone without a coach recently. They're about to play us, and, as Chappelli points out, Australia have been 'overcoached'. Game on.

[nick]

I think that I'm a very peaceful person. I'm quite happy to just live in peace and I'd rather not have any aggro or any annoying situations.

'Yes, I've had a fortunate life. But, hopefully, I've never let it get so comfortable that I stop thinking about other people, particularly less fortunate people. I've always had a fairly highly developed sense of fair play. But if something annoys me, it really gets up my nose. If I feel that something is not right I can't just sit back and hold my tongue. If something is stewing up inside of me, I...eventually it's got to come out if I feel really strongly about it.'

Chappelli 14/07/03 on Australian Story

[Tony T]

I don't mind Chappelli criticising coaches, as long as he keeps it real. 95% against, 5% for means he thinks coaches are worth next to fuck all. That's just stupid. Obviously Warne's been in his ear, looking for supporting artillery.

[nick]

Warne was never appointed as the Australian captain - and he's not helping his case to be a future Australian coach. Maybe, after a fall from grace when his exploits catch up with him, he will teach a young leggie much like Terry Jenner did (Ben and Luke???).

[Carrot]

Ian Chappell is the Australian Ian Botham, the irony being that they can't stand each other. They both give you the impression that they can't stand being retired, hate getting old, never really grew up, and compensate for it by being overly aggressive with their opinions so that people don't forget who they are. They're both dickheads.

I hate Chappell marginally less because he's a better commentator, and switches the above off (a bit) when he's on the air. I really, really, really can't stand Botham, though - he's a shit commentator, and every opinion he expresses is designed to remind everyone what a genius he was, in every facet of the game. I particularly like it when he criticises peoples' captaincy - so how many tests did England win with you at the helm, Both? Big, fat, NONE.

PS, I thought Gilly's riposte was pretty good. A bit evangelical, a la Justin Langer, but still pretty good. By the way, I wonder whether there's REALLY a Warne-Gilchrist rift like every second article at the moment says there is, or whether it's a bit of spin following Warne's Top 50 list awhile ago.

[Tony T]

I like that both Botham and Chappell are famous for shooting from the lip, but both are shockingly boring commentators.

Gilly's good the way he always keeps a cheery tone when he tells someone off. He never sounds as if he's getting stuck in, but his point is always well made. Any chance he will run for parliament?

[via collins]

Loved the report in The Age this morn that quoted Gilly speaking to a "large enthusiastic crowd" at the launch at Fed Sq.

Strolled past the presser with the kids myself - around 30 people an 4 seagulls hanging on every word. If that was large and enthusiastic, 146 people at the G this week will be a sell-out. Future of test cricket? I'm catching the worry disease for Xmas.....

Come to think of it, the crowd for the advent calendar opening was what the ACB would like at a Gilly presser - is the advent calendar opeining the new Twenty/Twenty?

Strewth it's chilly tonight, and there's bugger all souls on the streets - must be Boxing Day test eve eve....

[Scott Wickstein]

Yay for Christmas. That means that there's just one more sleep until the Test starts!

I'm a big believer in the true meaning of Christmas!