Chappell ends speculation on coaching Australia

On Sunday evening, India's coach Greg Chappell addressed a news conference where he once again clarified that links with the Cricket Australia job were just speculation. "As you all are aware about stories floating in the media about the Australian coaching job and CA, I would just like to say as I have said since accepting this position that coaching India is possibly cricket's biggest challenge, and it is one I am enjoying tremendously despite the huge challenges and the expectations of a billion cricket-loving people."

There have been reports in the Australian media that he could be the man to coach Australia's national team once John Buchanan's successful tenure ends after the World Cup in May 2007. Chappell's current contract with the Indian team also expires around the same time.

"I am totally focussed on the job and am giving my blood, sweat and tears. I am fortunate and indeed grateful to receive the overwhelming affection and love of the Indian public everyday, and I am also lucky to enjoy the trust, loyalty and commitment of Team India and its wonderful leader, Rahul Dravid, whom I have the utmost respect for along with other legends of the game like Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble," Chappell said.

"I am confident that when the time is right, Mr [Sharad] Pawar (the Board president) and the BCCI will sit down with me and discuss my future. I have no further comment to make on this issue."

Chappell also spoke of how frustrating it had been to sit around and twiddle thumbs while rain and events unrelated to cricket - the bomb blast on Monday that killed seven - spoilt any chances of play. "It's been frustrating to spend eight days or more waiting for the rain to stop," he said. "We had a few good sessions talking cricket with people who have had success in international cricket, talk about the way they prepare and go about their cricket. It was also an opportunity for us to reflect on what's happened and on what we are doing. Again, in busy schedules, that always doesn't happen.

"The guys have been terrific in that they have coped remarkably well. That's one thing I have learnt about India, they cope with setbacks very well. The boys have managed to keep themselves reasonably active and in a pretty good state of mind."

This series should also have been Sachin Tendulkar's return to the fold, after months out following surgery on his shoulder. "He would have loved to have got there and got cracking," said Chappell, when asked about Tendulkar. "He managed to get a few deliveries in the partial match he played. He knows that there will be another day when he will get the chance before long. If there is a silver lining, it is that he gets a bit more time to get stronger before he plays his first full official game."

According to Chappell, there was a chance that the team would leave for Malaysia and Singapore a little early, ahead of the tri-series featuring Australia and West Indies that starts on September 12. He was skeptical about the benefits of another camp. "The danger is that one camp after another is not necessarily better," he said. "We have to be a little careful, and try to do something different from the Bangalore camp."