Thaindian News

Melbourne, Aug 22 (IANS) Former Australian captain Ian Chappell feels the country’s cricket board relying on the Argus report to plug the loopholes in the team suggests there is something wrong with the apex body.

The report was released Friday holding national talent manager Greg Chappell, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and coach Tim Nielsen responsible for the team’s decline in the international arena, besides losing against arch-rivals England.

Chappell has been relieved from his selection duties, Hilditch is all set to quit while Nielsen will have to re-apply for the coach’s job.

“It has got to give you a bit of a clue when you have to hold a review to see what is wrong with the body that is supposed to be running cricket,” Ian Chappell, who is Greg’s elder brother, told the BBC.

“That has got to tell you where most of the problems are, surely?

“If you have got the right people in place, they see that there’s problems and start doing something about them.”

Chappell says Australia’s slide in world cricket was inevitable after the likes of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath retired.

“I always thought Judgment Day was to come for Australia when Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath went,” he said.

“The fact that Australia were able to prolong their reign at the top was in part a credit to them, a credit to Ricky Ponting, and I think it was also down to the fact that there wasn’t much around to take over from them.”

Australia have won the One-day series in their ongoing tour of Sri Lanka and Chappell sees them winning the Test series as well.

“I give them a chance in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka are not that good now. Take Murali out of that attack and they could struggle. I think Australia’s got a bit of a chance of winning that one.”