Australian youngster in primary school compared to Indian counterparts: Greg Chappell

Tags: India tour of Australia, 2020-21, India, Australia A

Published on: Jan 23, 2021

Australian legend Greg Chappell has equated young Australian cricketers to "primary school" students in comparison to their Indian counterparts following the team’s 1-2 series loss to India.

Despite being ravaged by injuries and missing most of their key players, India still managed to defeat Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Chappell put down India’s victory to the robust domestic structure in the country and the efforts taken by BCCI to prepare youngsters for the hard grind in international cricket.

"Our young cricketers are weekend warriors compared to their Indian compatriots, who get challenging matchplay from the Under-16 age group onwards, By the time an Indian player reaches the national XI, he has had an all-round apprenticeship that prepares him to walk into the Indian side with a reasonable chance of success.

“I am afraid, in comparison, Will Pucovski and Cameron Green are still in primary school in terms of experience," Chappell wrote in a column for 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

Chappell opined that Cricket Australia isn’t investing enough in the game, and hence the results haven’t been satisfactory of late. "The BCCI is investing millions of dollars in budding Indian cricketers. Cricket Australia, by comparison, spends $44m dollars on the Sheffield Shield. The comparative spending gap isn’t a gulf; it is the size of the Indian Ocean," Chappell wrote.

"If Cricket Australia doesn’t realise what it takes to be competitive in Test cricket and our entire cricket administration does not change its attitude on where to invest in talent, we will be also-rans in no time."

The Aussie legend added that the skill level of Indian youth teams are way better than some of Australia’s first-class teams.

"Their ability to deal with pressure has been cultivated in the cauldron of hard-fought matches. That level of intensity cannot be replicated in nets or against lesser opponents. The fact that India has 38 first-class teams should give you an idea of the depth of talent available," he further wrote.

Australia have been facing backlash from various quarters in the aftermath of the defeat to India. This was their second successive Test series loss to India at home. The hosts’ defeat at the Gabba to India was their first at the venue since 1988.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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