Chappell warns against complacency

Less than a week before he takes charge of the national team, Greg Chappell has warned India's senior cricketers against complacency, saying that certain aspects of the coaching regimen would be non-negotiable. Chappell, who succeeds John Wright, will start work on June 15, and has already stressed the need for discipline and unity of purpose.

In an interview with The Sportstar, Chappell said: "It's not intended as any criticism but they [the players] are going to have to work a lot harder in some areas. That is going to be the challenge. Some of the senior players may not want to work that hard."

Chappell suggested that a coach could only produce results commensurate with the effort put in by his wards, and he made it clear that he didn't foresee any problem working with Sourav Ganguly, whose star has waned in recent times amid whispers about a less-than-perfect work ethic.

Chappell was one of those that Ganguly consulted before India's tour of Australia in 2003 - a brilliant century at Brisbane set the tone for a drawn series that India were unlucky not to win - and he said: "I worked with him before when he came out to Australia and we spent four or five days together and I enjoyed his company. I found him to be very likeable and a very nice fellow. It will be good to renew acquaintances there."

He was full of praise for India's batting line-up, but suggested that the team was far from being the finished article. "In the bowling you have Harbhajan and Kumble," he added. "There is a fair bit to work with but there is also a fair bit to do. It will be exciting, challenging, frustrating, all of those. It will be a ride -- the big dipper."