Of coaches and captains

UMPIRE'S POST

Every team must have an authoritative captain to answer to.

Scrutinising oneself is most effective "" even enjoyable "" when one is on a high. India's historic and surprise victory in the first Test in South Africa presents just such an opportunity.

If we are to eliminate the prefix "" surprise "" from our best victories, the captain has to take charge while the coach sticks to his job description.

The Ausssie invincibles of 1948 were Bradman's team. The 1970s and '80s West Indies team reported to Clive Lloyd. The Aussies of the 1990s and the 2000s were shepherded by Allan Border (who rebuilt), Mark Taylor (who consolidated) and Steve Waugh (who made them unbeatable).

The South African team of 1994-96 was Hansie Cronje's. And the Indian team of 2003-04 was Ganguly's. Right now, Ricky Ponting, in spite of his limitations as captain, rules. (Even Troy Cooley, the bowling coach, is getting more attention as Buchanan is content in the background).

In contrast, India's win is being seen as a vindication of the Chappell way. Not surprising, given the Indian team is perceived to be Chappell's.

For instance, on the morning after his 83 in the warm-up game, when Ganguly reported for the nets, Chappell sent down about two dozen balls. The channels lapped up the "sensational footage" of a coach coaching his player.

Unlike soccer, the coaching in cricket stops the moment the teams take the field. And, unlike soccer, there is a whole lot to be pondered over and decided inside the boundary ropes.

For instance, on the third afternoon of Johannesburg, only the captain could have "" he did not "" told VRV Singh, a hit-the-deck bowler as opposed to the swing of Khan and Sreesanth, to bowl short of good length to Prince.

Unfortunately, Dravid the captain is turning out to be like Dravid the player: by the book. He has to tear that book in shreds to outthink rival captains. It should give Dravid the confidence that the Test victory has been sculpted by men who may not have been in the team had Chappell had his way.

The option is to wait for when we rue the carte blanche to the coach, as England must be doing (if only Fletcher had played Monty in the first two tests). It hasn't helped that Freddie is still dodder-ing as captain, in contrast with the authoritative Vaughan of last year's Ashes winning team.

Chappell will do well to take a leaf "" or at least this line "" from John Wright's book: "I hope when Sourav looks back on our partnership, he feels he had the freedom to captain the team his way." Otherwise, we may be rudely reminded of another of Wright's lines, that every coach has a sell-by date.