Greg Chappell: Not Out: From India to Ball Tampering to Australian Cricket's Future

by Greg Chappell

Greg Not Out brings his many years of experience to the fore to discuss Australia's favourite sport from all angles, including scandals, mental skills, and the future of the game.Greg Chappell's retirement as a cricketer was the conventional end of a great sporting career. But it was only the start of an equally lively journey. An original thinker and a peerless judge of talent, Chappell commands respect and is widely sought after for his views on all things cricket. He has seldom been away from the thick of it. Here, he tells all.Forty years since the underarm, Chappell takes us inside the secretive world of selection. He tells the story of Twenty20's forerunner Super 8s, and reveals his insights from an eventful stint as coach of India. He speaks frankly on a decade at Cricket Australia, including warning signs he saw ahead of the Newlands scandal, and calls for greater focus on the game's mental skills. Chappell also unveils a blueprint for the future of Australian cricket. He argues forcefully that the game has drifted too far from the type of lean, hungry system that helped to take the national team to the top.Greg Not Out is a uniquely insightful and entertaining look at cricket, and a must-read for all fans of the sport.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2021

Reviews

[Marles Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember hearing the name of Greg Chappell among others like Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and Kim Hughes in the 1980s while the cricket was on TV. He is synonymous with being one of the best batsmen in the history of cricket, and has been a coach, a selector and a commentator. On the weeks following the death of another true legendary sportsperson, Shane Warne, I picked this up to reacquaint myself with the game from the point of view of one of the very champions of the game.

Greg goes through many pivotal moments in cricket history, both in Australia and internationally. What resonated with me was his focus on coaching: “Coaching is so much more about trying to understand players as people and finding ways to impart knowledge in a way that complemented their own.” There seems to be a theme coming from Greg in that a shift is needed in cricket to make sure that the coaching of the current and next generations prepares them holistically for their career and the playing of a sport they love. What I would have loved as part of these observations is a commentary of the amazing success the Australian Women’s Cricket teams have had in the last few years.

It was both insightful and entertaining to read about Greg Chappell’s experiences in coaching, and how feedback was received by players and team mates. This quote also caught my attention: “Technique is nothing more than your style, your personality being expressed in how your shift yourself from position to another…”. I loved the ownership that he gives to a person’s technique – yes there may be structure to what a player maybe doing, but in the end it is they way of playing that gets them where they want to be. Great insights on teams, coaching and the preparation required to make it as a professional cricket player.

[Peter Langston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with Daniel Bretton on the keyboard, Greg Chappell explores the broad brush of his experience as an Australian cricketer, captain, selector and young talent manager and his work coaching South Australia and India. Most of those roles had significant highlights and a few lowlights, which the media seemed to delight in. It’s a very reflective work but at its core is a very strongly held view that cricket needs to change its emphasis away from physical training and instead, make sure players at all levels develop the mental capacities needed to ensure ongoing success. Chappell defines success as being much more than runs or wickets or winning. He believes it must also encompass who cricketers can be as people and consumers of a broader life. There are several touching stories, including his relationships with son Stephen and brothers Ian and Trevor. A good read for the thoughtful types who once were lost in the rapture of a Chappell cover drive and like the man himself, have continued to grow beyond technique and into the art of the shot.

[Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. Great insights on team environments, selection and mental preparation. His chapters on why previous players didn’t play more games for Australia is a highlight.