Chappell succeeds Wright as India coach

Colin Crompton
Saturday 21 May 2005 00:00 BST
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The former Australia captain Greg Chappell was appointed India coach yesterday. He succeeds the New Zealander John Wright.

The former Australia captain Greg Chappell was appointed India coach yesterday. He succeeds the New Zealander John Wright.

The 56-year-old Chappell, one of the finest batsmen of his generation, was chosen ahead of his younger compatriot Tom Moody, India's Mohinder Amarnath and the former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes.

Moody, the director of cricket at Worcestershire, is now set to be named Sri Lanka coach next week. Sri Lanka had been waiting for India to make their decision before appointing Moody.

Chappell said his focus is to revive India's one-day performances and to motivate a side which has the potential to win the 2007 World Cup.

"It's a great honour to be asked to coach any national side," he said. "I've my own philosophy. We're not talking about rocket science. It's a simple game and I want to keep things simple."

"The decision was unanimous. His contract will be for two years until the 2007 World Cup," Ranbir Mahendra, president of the Board of Control for cricket in India said. Chappell unsuccessfully applied for the job in 2000, when Wright became India's first foreign coach.

Moody is due to travel to Colombo over the weekend for an interview with the Sri Lankan cricket board. "We hope to have everything finalised early next week," the Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa said. Moody is expected to agree a two-year contract to lead the team to the 2007 World Cup.

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