'I'm sure Sachin can bounce back'

Greg Chappell, the new Indian coach, has suggested that helping Sachin Tendulkar regain his form would be one of his priorities in the job. Speaking to The Sun-Herald, Chappell admitted that while Tendulkar might not regain the full splendour of his glory days, he could still make a significant contribution to the team over the next few years.

"Everyone goes through different phases in their career," Chappell told the weekly. "He's been around for about 15 years and most of those 15 years have been extraordinary. He's had some down periods recently. He's had some injuries. He's perhaps had a bit of a crisis about what his role is in the team.

"I just need to sit down with him and work out where he's at and where he wants to go, what expectations and goals he has. Hopefully I can motivate him and present him with some new challenges."

Tendulkar has had a comparatively lean run in international cricket over the last 16 months. In his last 25 one-day internationals, he only averages 35.41, nine runs below his career average, with ten single-digit scores. His Test stats are better - an average of 51.15 in his most recent ten matches - but a significant chunk of his runs during this period came in one innings: an unbeaten 248 against Bangladesh at Dhaka. Remove that innings, and the the stats don't look so impressive - 417 runs at 32.08.

"I don't think he's ever going to be the player he was," Chappell said. "You change. You're a different person in your 30s compared to when you're an 18-year-old. You just have to learn to play accordingly. In many ways you can be better, in many ways you can't be, because you're not as flexible in body and mind as you used to be. There are other things going on in his life that he didn't have as a young player. All he needs is to feel welcome, wanted and to have a meaningful role in the team.

"I'm sure he can bounce back, maybe not to the great heights he reached before, but bounce back and play an important role. To work with a player of that quality will be a privilege and an honour."

Chappell also had words of praise for Sourav Ganguly. "I've worked with Sourav before and I enjoy his company," he said. "I found him to be likeable and a very nice fellow. It will be good to renew the acquaintance there."

Chappell's first assignment will be a triangular one-day tournament in Sri Lanka in August, where West Indies will be the third team.