Chappell cites Tendulkar, Redpath's examples to win battle against COVID-19

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has compared the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with a five-day game, saying the need of the hour for every individual is to display patience, determination and initiative -- key attributes of a Test cricketer -- to tide over the crisis.

To support his point, Chappell cited the example of two "influential innings" of Sachin Tendulkar and fellow Australian opener Ian Redpat, which according to him displayed all the three qualities needed to to bail out of the current situation.

"The current testing times are demanding a lot of citizens round the world. I've learned that rules that apply to athletes prospering at sport are also helpful in living life.

"With the Covid-19 pandemic biting hard, citizens of all countries are being asked to display - among other attributes - patience, determination, and a bit of initiative. These are qualities essential to playing Test cricket at a high level," Chappell wrote in a column for espncricinfo.com.

Chappell handpicked Tendulkar's memorable innings against Australia in a 1998 Test in Chennai, where he dominated Shane Warne with his attacking approach.

"To highlight the point I've chosen two particularly influential innings. The first one is a Sachin Tendulkar masterpiece in Chennai in 1998. His brilliant second-innings 155 won the Test for India, but it wouldn't have happened without the initiative displayed by Tendulkar in the lead-up to the series," the Aussie legend said.

"Tendulkar asked tall former India allrounder Ravi Shastri how he should cope with champion Australian legspinner Shane Warne if he went round the wicket to bowl into the rough.

"Shastri's reply was tinged with common sense. 'Because of my long reach,' he replied, 'I had a defensive antidote to Warne bowling in the rough, but you don't. You'll have to devise an attacking option to combat Warne bowling in the footmarks'."
"Tendulkar's determination and initiative were rewarded when he put his well-thought-out plan into operation. He immediately attacked deliveries pitching in the footmarks, and after a series of electrifying shots reached and cleared the boundary, Warne reluctantly went back over the wicket. Tendulkar had won the battle and India would go on to win the Test."