Former South African bowler Allan Donald believes that subcontinent cricketers
"lack discipline" which often resulted in a rift with their coaches.
Citing the fall-out between the Indians and Australian Greg Chappell who
guided them for two years till the World Cup, Donald said the players might
have had their share of blame.
"From what I have seen, it looked like the Indian players
enjoyed Greg Chappell's company but there were some issues which got blown out
of proportion ... It could have something to do with the role of the coach as
most of the players just want to go their own way and play as they like to,"
Donald wrote in a column on 'Cricketnext.Com'.
"At the highest level, the coach's word should be taken as final but it
seems that there is a lack of discipline here.
"The Indian and Pakistani players always seem to have
some issue or the other with their coaches." Donald, who has been appointed
as a short-term bowling consultant of the England team, urged the Indians to
strike a good rapport with whoever was appointed to guide them in place of Australian
Greg Chappell.
"For the coach to function smoothly, particularly if he is from some other
country, the senior players should back him," wrote the first South African
to claim 300 Test scalps.
"In South Africa, too, when Bob Woolmer were the coach there
were some problems initially, but the seniors backed him and soon everything
was settled."
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