India's players should take the blame for their 4-0 series loss to Australia because they simply weren't having a go, former Australian captain Ian Chappell says.
Chappell, a long-time critic of the importance placed on the role of head coach, said India's under-siege mentor Duncan Fletcher should shoulder little of the blame because a coach's influence is minimal.
India's batting lineup, including the ''big three'' Rahul Dravid (24.25), Sachin Tendulkar (35.87) and VVS Laxman (19.37), all averaged under 40.
David, 39, felt compelled to issue a statement via a team spokesman to dismiss rumours of his retirement after the end of the fourth Test in Adelaide on Saturday.
Tendulkar came to Australia seeking to become the first player to score 100 international centuries, but the milestone has eluded the 38-year-old.
Chappell said the obsession surrounding the record had not helped India's momentum.
''The star system is well and truly ingrained in the Indian team and things won't improve, certainly not on the overseas Test match front, until this is changed,'' Chappell said yesterday.
''The problem is that the star system is part of India's general culture and it's going to be difficult to change the approach in the cricket team.
''The average Indian fan is satisfied if Tendulkar scores a hundred but the team loses. India needs to become ... a team.''
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