Cricket: Chappell-Ganguly in test showdown

BULAWAYO - Growing differences between captain Sourav Ganguly and coach Greg Chappell over team composition are reportedly creating a growing rift in the Indian camp.

The matter boiled over yesterday in Bulawayo, where Ganguly said he had been asked to step down as captain on the eve of the first test against Zimbabwe because of his poor batting form.

The left-hander laboured for six hours to score 101 against one of the weakest attacks in test cricket, but at least it fetched him his first international century since making 144 against Australia in November 2003.

Ganguly, 33, did not say who had suggested he stand aside, but the media pointed directly at Chappell, the former Australian captain who took over as Indian coach in June.

"In what will rank as unprecedented in captain-coach relationships, Greg Chappell asked Sourav Ganguly to step down on the eve of the test," the Telegraph newspaper said from Ganguly's home-town of Kolkata, formerly Calcutta.

The newspaper spelt out the drama enacted a day before the test began.

It said Chappell conveyed two things to Ganguly - his form did not merit selection in the team and that in-form Mohammad Kaif had to be played at his expense.

"That dialogue upset Sourav, who returned to the dressing room and had a word with team manager Amitabh Choudhary.

"The manager promptly spoke to vice-captain Rahul Dravid, who felt this was not the time to ask Sourav to step aside.

"After talking to Dravid, Choudhary called a meeting between Sourav, Chappell and the vice-captain himself.

"That meeting, in the dressing room, lasted half-an-hour and Chappell eventually agreed with Dravid that it was not the time to change captains.

"Those who are trying to divide Team India ought to appreciate the response of the vice-captain," the newspaper said.

Chappell said in Bulawayo: "Sourav and I discussed the balance of the team and there were a number of issues, but that's all I want to say at this stage."

Ganguly, when asked directly whether Chappell had sought his ousting as captain, said: "You know what has been happening in Indian cricket.

"Other people are making the decisions, my silence says everything, so I will stick to it."

Ganguly, who has established an Indian captaincy record of 19 test wins since 2000, was considered lucky to be back as skipper for the tour of Zimbabwe.

Before the Bulawayo test, the left-hander had managed just 927 runs in his last 20 tests, in contrast to nearest contender Dravid's 2082 runs at an average of 74.35 in the same period.

India piled on 554 in their first innings on the third day yesterday before the home side were sent reeling to 67 for six at the close in their second innings, a deficit of 208.

- REUTERS