Well, I won't quite agree with what has been said/implied here. What the author calls here 'micro-managing' is in fact called 'creating a sense of expectation' and 'an unrelenting predilection for being never at rest'; these qualities being primal to create world champions. What is less obvious is that only a champion would know these and all he was trying was to pass them on. "Understanding Bowling" would obviously help Imran Khan as a captin, mainly because he's a bowler and thus in ctrl of things and was at all times supported by world-class performers like Wasim, Waqar and other genuine seamers. It doesn't always help if you "understand bowling" and your bowlers keep getting away for runs; then you need to approach the bowler and talk. It's a known fact that Tendulkar hasn't done well in his stints as a captain, but saying that his approach wasn't right would be a bit gross and again, let us stop linking every single issue with his retirement and take his decision in good spirit.

I think what Ian Chappell said with regard to the bowlers and how sachin handled them was absolutely right.I think during his two stints as captain, he never realized that every player has certain limitations, beyond which he cannot perform.Sachin expected his players to perform at his level and the players at his disposal had limited talent.He also did not have a proper support structure to assist him, which is the case even now, what with the team without a coach.Even the board dosen't know who the "Cricket Manager" for the Australian tour is going to be.You never know with the BCCI.They may even call Mr.Bob Simpson to assist the team in Aus.

completely agree. sachin is a great batsman but a poor leader and appears to be a very impatient and 'know-all' kind of captain. another stint at the job would have exposed his inabilities further.

Yeah Ian is right. Tendulkar wanted the same intensity form players as he played the game. Continuous advice,suggestions to bowlers may have an adverse effect on them.Stats also do not favour tendulakar as a captain.He is also not the same force as he used to be. Better leave him concentrate on his batting.

Absolutely spot on Mr. Chappell. I had noticed Sachin's constant talking with the bowlers during the overs. It will certainly affect the bowler's thinking. One can not put any simpler than that a bowler has also been selected, participated in the team meeting, so knows the plan. Suggestions once in a while are fine but not continuous interference.

Dear Mr. Chappell, I have not found much to agree with in your recent opinions on Tendulkar - but that is on Sachin the cricketer and batsman. However, I do fully agree with you on this occasion - Sachin was way overboard in his discourses to bowlers during his stint as captain. I often watched live tele casts with my father and both of us (avid Sachin fans) wished he would shut up and let the bowler do his stuff! After all, he wouldn't (and doesn't) appreciate receive batting advice from a bowling or batting captain. It would have been nice to see if he had changed and improved as a man manager over time - but perhaps not. He seems to be doing well in his current role as mentor to the likes of Yuvie and Bhajji (who have now passed out!) and perhaps the younger ones as well.

I think when Sachin was captaining Indian side, he didin't had support of many quality bowlers as they are now in Indian team. That made his job difficult with not much options left. Today we have 5 pacers in line up and that make a huge difference.

I totally agree with Ian, but the question is still needs to be answered. Who will be the India Test Captain? If you ask me, I will definatly go for Dhoni keeping in mind the future and his abilities of what he has achieve in his tenure as a captain. Kumble is great but for how long, we are already started talking about his retirement and if that is the case, no point of having a captain for only 6 months or a year. A good example to follow here is of Grame Smith or of Stephen Flemming. He can be the third one.

I agree with Ian that Sachin wouldn't have made the best captain. There are certainly others within the team who are more capable of leading. However, I adamantly disagree that it would have been an embarrassing mistake. This bowling and batting line-up of the current team has more than potential. They are performing. I don't believe that Tendulkar would have came to give advise to someone like Zaheer. This current team is much better than the ones he had lead in the past. Nonetheless, it was the best decision keeping in mind of the future. I also think he was wary of the success that Dhoni might have in the ODIs. Dhoni is a special captian and Sachin rightly decided not to be compared against him. It is also much likely for someone like Dhoni to succeed since Tendulkar is put under far too much pressure by the media. His actions are constantly watched, judged, and more often scrutinized. Tendulkar has never been short of good ideas and they are better noted as a senior member or VC.