Sat 19 Aug 2006
Source: Cricinfo
Chappell denies suggestions of coaching Australia
August 19, 2006
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Greg Chappell has brushed aside suggestions that he could be the man to coach Australia’s national team once John Buchanan’s successful tenure ends after the World Cup in May 2007. Chappell’s current contract with the Indian team also expires around the same time, but he insisted that there had been no approach from Cricket Australia, or any word from the Indian board that his deal would not be extended.
“I haven’t really followed the story,” he told Cricinfo. “If Allan Border did say that, then I assume that they might be in the process of identifying candidates to succeed Buchanan. If the media want to pick up a quote and run with it, then that’s their prerogative.”
The Herald Sun had quoted Border, now a Cricket Australia director, as saying: “Tom Moody, Tim Nielsen, Greg Chappell is in the mix, Dav Whatmore is now coaching Bangladesh and he was a long-term coach at Sri Lanka. We’ve got a lot of good candidates for a tough job.”
The story also suggested that Chappell’s contract with the BCCI “will not be renewed by mutual arrangement”. If that’s the case, it’s certainly news to Chappell, who said: “I’m just halfway through the job I have to do here. There have been no discussions yet with the BCCI about extending my contract, nor have they told me that there is no interest in an extension. As of now, I’m coach of the Indian team. That’s my job, and my entire focus is on that. I’m really not interested in fanning the flames of mere speculation.”
India have been in Sri Lanka over a week now, and have just one practice match and 22 balls of international cricket to show for their time here. Chappell admitted that it was a difficult situation for the players to wait around not knowing when they would get to play. With more rain predicted, this ill-fated tour could literally turn out to be a damp squib.