Sports India

West Indies batting maestro Brian Lara would have been stunned had Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene broken his world record for the highest individual score yesterday.

More so since Lara had picked out Indian opener Virender Sehwag to beat his record 400 not out against England, in a recent chat in Dubai. “Give him a day-and-a-half and Sehwag could do it,” was his answer when asked to identify one player who could beat his record.

Jayawardene never figured in Lara’s list of batsmen who could break his record for the highest number of runs. But the fact is that he has nearly 6,000 runs in both forms of the game. At 29, the Lankan skipper has many years of cricket ahead of him too.

Jayawardene was close to erasing Lara’s 375 against Pakistan at Kingston in 1994. Incidentally, Lara also recalled an interesting incident involving Matthew Hayden when his record of 375 was erased.

“Soon after Hayden hit 380 against Zimbabwe at Perth in 2004, I called him to congratulate him, but strangely, his response was abrupt,” revealed Lara.

Jayawardene became Sri Lanka’s highest individual scorer, erasing Sanath Jayasuriya’s 340 vs India at Colombo in 1997. Ironically, that was Jayawardene’s debut Test where he made 66.

Biggest critic

Jayawardene’s previous best was 242 against India in the 1999 Asian Test Championship in Sri Lanka. Despite his 14 Test centuries and 29 fifties, he is the biggest critic of his own game.

Once during an interview I’d asked him whether he reckons his 242 as his finest knock. His remark was: “It was a lucky knock. I was dropped many times.” He picked his 167 against New Zealand in 1998 at Galle as his best. “It was a real turner and Vettori was bowling at his best. I had guided Sri Lanka to victory,” he said.

A quote from Jayawardene is a clear indication of his maturity level. He said: “One day, you can get a hundred, the next day you can be dismissed for zero. This teaches you to accept success and failure. I think I’ve learnt a lot about life from cricket.”

Gavaskar has questioned the rationale behind asking players to indulge in activities like rock-climbing and termed as ‘naïve’ all the talk about getting the players to bond.

The team members other that coach and captain Rahul Dravid, are real unhappy in wasting time with activities that is just useless.

According to my sources within the team, some team members are even joking about the coach and the captain for ‘’childish indulgence to new experiment.'’

Some other former cricketers are also questioning the new training camp in the outskirt of Bangalore. India has been experimenting with many new techniques for a long time with little effect till this date.

Indian captain Rahul Dravid Saturday said the squad’s three-day secret training at the Pegasus Institute for Excellence, about 65 km from here, would help players in the long run.

Addressing a press conference, a day after the players returned from the institute to resume their conditioning camp for next month’s triangular series in Sri Lanka, Dravid said the outing had given the players some ‘new experiences’.

‘Every camp has got some element that is directed towards the short term,’ he said about the stint, from which the media was barred. ‘There is also an element that is directed towards the long term.’

He added: ‘It (the stint) gave new experiences to people who tried to get something out of their personalities.’

The Pegasus Institute for Excellence is well known for its ‘Outward Bound Learning’ programme that is aimed at increasing tolerance levels.

‘We had a session in Tai Chi, which is like yoga. We had heard about it and we wanted to experience it,’ said Dravid. ‘It might benefit them. It depends on an individual how he takes it.’

The conditioning camp will continue at the National Cricket Academy housed at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

A cricket camp will follow this one, before the team leaves for Sri Lanka.

After three days of sweat and secrecy, Rahul Dravid and his men were back on the familiar terrain of flashbulbs and autograph hunters. The skipper was a visibly pleased man as he spoke to the media at length about the closed-door training stint at the Pegasus Centre besides dwelling on the forthcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka and the welcome return of Sachin Tendulkar.

Excerpts

On the three-day stint: It’s a good set-up in Doddaballapur. Executives from more than 100 companies have trained there in the last eight years. The activities we did were challenging physically and mentally. It also involved teamwork. It was a good experience and helped some of our boys to explore different facets of their personality. Not many have the opportunity to train and be on their own without having a lot of people around them, without having the press constantly photographing them. The challenge for us is not only about helping them grow as cricketers but also to help them grow as people.

On specific activities: Most of the activities were something which none of the guys had done before. I have seen some reports that we did rock-climbing and rafting but we didn’t do any of them. Pegasus is a set-up, which has some sort of army drills, and the physical aspect is something that we as athletes can do but it also challenges you mentally to finish the task. It was a nice experience to stay in tents and do new things but we didn’t go there just to bond but we also went there to help the guys explore themselves in terms of their physical and mental aspects.

On the World Cup team: I’m not a selector and not in a position to give a definite answer but I feel everyone who is playing domestic cricket is available for selection. Obviously these 20 are the ones who have played for us in the recent past. They include the 15 scheduled to tour Sri Lanka and the others who played for us in the West Indies. But if some special talent crops up in the next few months, we will definitely not ignore him.

On Tendulkar’s return: Sachin responded well and did everything that was asked of him. Obviously we had our physio to advise us in case anything we did had a risky element in it but then we did not do anything like that and he participated in every single thing we did. He was very keen and looks in very good shape but more than shape, he looks in a very good state of mind and that is most important to me.

On the tri-series: Sri Lanka at home is a tough outfit. It has always been a challenging tour. We are all excited about it and if we perform well there, it will be a good start to our season.

On future camps: It depends on situations and what we are trying to achieve. It did help us in the last three days and in the future if we come across a similar situation, then we might do it again or we might do something completely new.

Then captain of the national team, a scholarship lured him to swap bat for books but Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell remains loyal to his first love and his list of cricket greats includes batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

Dr. Mitchell — also the chairman of the CARICOM Prime Minister’s sub-committee on cricket — said he is an ardent Tendulkar fan with a disliking for the usual Tendulkar-Brian Lara comparison.

“Tendulkar, without an iota of doubt, ranks among the all-time greats. I just like him. He is such an exciting player. A great player’s hallmark is whatever be the situation, he comes and starts dictating terms and that’s what Tendulkar has done so often,'’ he said.

He, however, steers clear of the Lara vs. Tendulkar debate and insists that it is impossible to compare the two batting maestros.

“There can’t be comparison between them. Both are great players and the difference is while one is right-hander, the other is a southpaw.'’

Dr. Mitchell also has high respect for Little Master Sunil Gavaskar. “Of course we remember him. How can you forget his 1970-71 debut? I tell you, he was the most difficult batsman to bowl to,'’ he said of the legendary opener

Security for cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, superstar Amitabh Bachchan and other prominent personalities has been stepped up following intelligence reports that they could be targets of terrorists, police said on Saturday.

Tendulkar, who was enjoying an ‘X’ category security cover, has now been provided one-step up ‘Y’ category security, they said.

It means armed bodyguards will accompany Tendulkar whereever he goes, while his residence in Mumbai and other places where he visits in the country will be guarded by local police, they added.

Apart from Tendulkar, security of ‘icons’ staying in Mumbai, like superstars Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, industrialist Mukesh Ambani, has also been stepped up, police said, but refused to divulge the nature of security provided to them.

Meanwhile the Centre has described as proper the stepping up of security of eminent persons including Tendulkar by Maharashtra Police in the wake of intelligence inputs of terror threat to ‘icons’.

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said that while the Central Intelligence Bureau does not have any such definite information, Maharashtra Government is fully competent to beef up security.

It might be possible that the state intelligence might have reported threat to eminent persons and since Tendulkar is one of them and the people have emotional attachment with the cricketer, the step might have been taken, he told a news chaneel.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Protection and Security), Mumbai, Surendra Kumar, informed that security to Tendulkar and other personalities has been stepped up upon specific intelligence input.

“He (Tendulkar) is one of the iconic personalities and therefore his security arrangements have been further beefed up,” Kumar said, adding at present the star was in Bangalore and the security arrangements were being taken care of by the local police there.

“These people already had a security cover and what we have done is stepping it up further,” he added.

Twenty to go… This is how the Indian team would be looking at their one-day cricket from now on. Twenty matches to go before the World Cup.. And when that time comes to play that first World Cup game, India should feel that they have looked at all the options available up till now and this is what we think is the best. The best 15 players that gives us the best shot at the Cup.

I would like to think that the selectors are still looking and their net is still spread wide out there, to catch players, showing either sparks of talent or strong performances.

At the end of the 20 matches, the Indian team should culminate into a unit that has been formed after a genuinely exhausting exercise, that has lasted for more than a year, after tapping various alternatives.

The team that goes to West Indies for the World Cup then should be a team that has each player worth his salt. Then it does not matter his age, his past or his experience. It should be a player that excites the team management with his promise at the time.

Based on these thoughts, I believe there should not be too much scrutiny of the team selected for the tri-series in Sri Lanka. Perhaps that energy of ours could be preserved when the team for the World Cup is announced.

Dinesh Mongia, who played in the last World Cup, is back in the Indian team after a long absence. Whatever could be the stories floating around his selection, I look at it as maturity on the part of the selectors.

They have showed that although youth is an important consideration in their planning they are not going to be obsessed with it. This selection is on pure performance. Interestingly though on English county performances.

Suddenly County Cricket performances have become more and more relevant for Indian cricket selections. We even have Sourav Ganguly and Zaheer Khan staking their claims for Indian selection from England.

This also means that Indian players who do not play county cricket are somewhat at a disadvantage. Mongia clearly would not have been back in this Indian team if not for his contract with a certain county in England.

With India playing around the year and having international commitments now in June, July and August and with our domestic season finishing much before that in April, there is no match opportunities for fringe players to make a strong case for selection, unless he is influential enough to get a county contract. A situation that the BCCI could make note of.

So here we have Mongia’s performances in England been rewarded, while Zaheer Khan’s have not. But it seems not for long, as Zaheer keeps sending these strong messages to the Indian selectors, through the only way you should, by outstanding performances.

Anil Kumble’s unbelievable perseverance as a bowler has got him back in the reckoning for one-day cricket, a possibility that was almost ruled out two years back as focus had shifted to youth and energy in the field.

Though he is not picked in the team for Sri Lanka, you can quite clearly gauge that he is a strong candidate for the Indian team for the World Cup. By not selecting him in the team but keeping him well informed about their long term plans with him, the selectors have shown the virtue of communication. Importance of a dialogue between players and selectors can never be under-estimated.

Kumble today is not in the India team but he is not unhappy or hurt, for he has been motivated by the words passed on to him by the men in charge. This contact between players and selectors helps keep the harmony in the dressing room, so vital for winning performances.

And really Kumble has reached a stage in his career that he does not need one-day match practice, to excel if he has to, in the more important one day matches later.

Kumble, after 16 year of international cricket, is now predictably a good bowler and its just a matter of the team management visualizing him bowling the way he does against certain batting oppositions in given match conditions.

Finally, needless to say, it is going to be a tough outing for India as they take on South Africa and Sri Lanka in testing weather conditions. Even after that 4-1 loss in the last one day series in West Indies, there is no denying the fact that India is still a very good one day team. And unlike West Indies, they would be hoping that this time, they return with some answers and not, more questions.

Zaheer Khan had an average outing for Worcestershire and the Team India discard grabbed just one wicket even though his side tightened its grip on the Division Two Liverpool Victoria County Championship match against Derbyshire.

Derbyshire’s decision to bat first saw the side reaching 351 after losing all their wickets in 97.2 overs.

Zaheer was initially lacklustre but he came back to remove Graham Wagg (45), who was caught by Worcestershire skipper Vikram Solanki, just when the batsman was looking dangerous.

Zaheer’s first innings spell read 17-2-57-1.

In reply, Solanki (140) led from the front as Worcestershire ended the second day of the Championship match at 457 for five, which gave them a 33-run lead.

Steven Davies was not out on 101.

Twenty to go… This is how the Indian team would be looking at its one-day cricket from now on. Twenty matches to go before the World Cup. And when the time comes to play that first World Cup game, India should feel that it has looked at all the available options and has the best 15 players that gives it the best shot at the Cup.

I would like to think that the selectors are still looking and their net is still spread wide out, to catch players, showing either sparks of talent or strong performances.

At the end of the 20 matches, the Indian team should culminate into a unit that has been formed after a genuinely exhausting exercise that has lasted for more than a year, after tapping various alternatives. The team that goes to West Indies for the World Cup then should be a team that has in ir each player worth his salt. Then it does not matter whatever his age, his past or his experience.

Fair selection

Based on these thoughts, I believe there should not be too much scrutiny of the team selected for the tri-series in Sri Lanka. Dinesh Mongia, who played in the last World Cup, is back in the Indian team after a long absence. Whatever could be the stories floating around his selection; I look at it as maturity on the part of the selectors.

They have showed that although youth is an important consideration in their planning they are not going to be obsessed with it. This selection is on pure performance, interestingly though on English county performances.

Suddenly county cricket performances have become more and more relevant for Indian cricket selections. This also means that Indian players who do not play county cricket are somewhat at a disadvantage. Mongia clearly would not have been back in this Indian team if not for his contract with a certain county in England.

With India playing around the year and having international commitments now in June, July and August and with our domestic season finishing much before that in April, there are no match opportunities for fringe players to make a strong case for selection, unless he is influential enough to get a county contract. A situation that the BCCI could make note of.

Zaheer’s case

So here we have Mongia’s performances in England been rewarded, while Zaheer Khan’s have not. But it seems not for long, as Zaheer keeps sending these strong messages to the Indian selectors, through the only way you should, by outstanding performances.

Anil Kumble’s unbelievable perseverance as a bowler has got him back in the reckoning for one-day cricket, a possibility that was almost ruled out two years back as focus had shifted to youth and energy in the field.

Though he is not picked in the team for Sri Lanka, you can quite clearly gauge that he is a strong candidate for the World Cup. By not selecting him in the team but keeping him well informed about their long-term plans with him, the selectors have shown the virtue of communication.

Motivated Kumble

Kumble today is not in the India team but he is not unhappy or hurt, for he has been motivated by the words passed on to him by the men in charge. This contact between players and selectors help to keep the harmony in the dressing room, so vital for winning performances.

And really Kumble has reached a stage in his career where he does not need one-day match practice, to excel if he has to, in the more important one-day matches later.

Finally, needless to say, it is going to be a tough outing for India as it takes on South Africa and Sri Lanka in testing weather conditions. Even after the 4-1 loss in the last one-day series in West Indies, there is no denying the fact that India is still a very good one-day team. And unlike in West Indies, it would be hoping that this time, it returns with some answers and not, more questions.

Sourav Ganguly’s criticism should not be reduced to a drawing room debate. When any cricketer raises a pertinent point or highlights a problem, it should be considered in all seriousness.

And when somebody as successful as Ganguly alleges that the administrators are playing with the careers of cricketers, it’s a serious matter.

Any democratic set-up should be transparent in its functioning and everyone should have the right to voice his concerns. Ganguly has been gutsy enough in speaking out about the ills that afflict Bengal cricket and the bankruptcy of thought in the corridors of power.

Very few people in Indian cricket have the courage to do that. In fact, we should appreciate his guts and hope that others would also come forward.

One should not read too much into the timing of Ganguly’s e-mail, which has come in the run-up to the CAB elections. Rather, we should look at the essence of his statement. It clearly hints at the rot that has set in Bengal cricket
and a lot needs to be done to set it right.

Whichever faction wins the CAB election, will have to sit down with the members and do some soul-searching in a bid to solve matters. It is the job of the administrators to work towards popularising the game.

But, that is just one half of the job. The other half entails looking after the welfare of cricketers. To run a clean and efficient administration, the interests of the players can’t be ignored.

No player, whether it’s Sachin or Sourav, is bigger than the game. The same applies to administrators. Unfortunately, some of them don’t think so. They tend to take their jobs too seriously and in the process have developed big egos.

For any cricket body to function impartially, it should have a healthy mix of cricketers and non-cricketers running the show. Cricketing matters should be dealt by only cricketers while the day-to-day affairs should be managed by the administrators.

It is interesting to note that in Bengal cricket no player so far has ever become the secretary or president of CAB.

To allege that administrators have played with the career of cricketers is a serious issue, and no player would dare to level such charges without a very good reason. Obviously, Ganguly had a solid reason before he made those charges against Dalmiya.

A player should be judged on the basis of his performance on the field and not what he does off it. It is sad that dirty politics has disrupted the career of a competent player like Ganguly.