The winds of change

The BCCI's much-awaited 'review meeting' is over & it seems they've done some credible house-cleaning.

The best thing .... graded contracts are out. All players will now get the same match fees plus handsome bonuses on winning. Good, this should bring down some people to ground level.

Only 3 endorsements will be allowed for each player .... that too after the Board's approval.

Venky is the new bowling coach.

Robin Singh is the new fielding coach.

Shastri will be the team manager on their tour to Bangladesh & maybe even after that.

Chapell has been asked to continue his services in an advisory capacity.

Among the names being bandied about for the coach's post are those of Dave Whatmore, Sunny Gavaskar & Viv Richards. Personally, I'd prefer Whatmore. He's a proven performer.

A beginning has thus been made & a good one at that. Who knows, the 2007 World Cup disaster might just have been the wake-up call that Indian cricket sorely needed.