Greg Chappell calls for a mid-80s-like major review of Oz cricket

Sydney, Nov 12 (ANI): Former Aussie Test captain Greg Chappell has said that it was high time that Oz selectors, coaches and high-performance managers sat together to look at the demands on the modern player, as was done in mid-80s when his country faced a tough recession in cricket and West Indies ruled the cricketing world.

The review in the mid-1980s, under chairman of selectors Lawrie Sawle, identified Steve Waugh, Ian Healy, Dean Jones and Geoff Marsh who led the team's revival. It followed the retirement of Rod Marsh, Dennis Lillee and Chappell. Like mid-80s, Australia is once again struggling after the retirements of Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath.

"We need to sit down as we did 20-odd years ago and look at the types of cricketers we want to rebuild Australian cricket," the Herald Sun quoted Chappell as saying.

He added: "We need to do that over the next few months and get together selectors, coaches and high-performance managers. I am sure there will some strong views and we need to canvas all of those. We have to look at the demands on the modern player and how we can adapt to different situations. Australian cricket needs to keep evolving."

According to the paper, Chappell is now shepherding the next generation of Australian cricketers in his role as Centre of Excellence coach. His call for a talkfest will be noted in the corridors of power at Cricket Australia in the light of Australia's 2-0 Test series loss in India, it added.

Chappell said Australian cricket was in "reasonably good shape" and had no problems with the structure of domestic competitions. But, he has some firm ideas on how coaching methods can adapt to ensure Australia produces new champions.

"The research I've read is that the decision-making process is an important part of developing champions. There is a greater need than ever to put players into game situations rather than hours of training drills," he said. (ANI)