Karnataka legend retires

[Predator_05]

Nice article by cricinfo;

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/298242.html Dodda Ganesh announces retirement June 16, 2007 Dodda Ganesh, the right-arm medium-fast bowler from Karnataka, who played four Tests and one ODI, announced his retirement from all forms of the game in Bangalore. Ganesh, who is a coach now, declared his intention of joining politics. "It's been a great honour to represent Karnataka and play alongside legends like Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Rahul Dravid and Venkatesh Prasad," Ganesh told reporters in a press conference. "I now look forward to serving my people." Ganesh, 33, didn't sparkle in the limited opportunities in the international arena, picking up just five wickets at 57.4, but was a stalwart in the first-class arena. He grabbed 365 wickets at 29.42 and had twenty five-wicket hauls. He showed immense promise in his early days - he had the pace, a high-arm action, and a natural outswinger - and made his debut against South Africa in 1996. Little did he know that his international career would end a year later, in the fifth Test against West Indies in Georgetown. Kumble, who along with Gundappa Vishwanath, Prasad and Brijesh Patel, offered tributes at the felicitation ceremony, hailed his fighting spirit and felt Ganesh was a touch too raw when he made his international debut. Ganesh agreed with the sentiment. "Everything was new to me, the flight journey, the country [south Africa], and the whole touring. I was bit overwhelmed." It was in Irani Trophy in 1997 trophy, where he picked up eleven wickets, including the wickets of VVS Laxman and Navjot Singh Sidhu that he stormed into national reckoning. "It was a mistake," Ganesh quipped in light-hearted manner. "If I had not picked those wickets I would not have been picked so early for India and I would have played longer in the highest arena" Ganesh started his cricket as a wicketkeeper and an opening batsman - his early idols were Sadanand Vishwanath, the Indian wicketkeeper, and Ravi Shastri - in the tennis ball cricket before gradually turning to bowling. It was Vishwanath who spotted his bowling talent and enrolled him at Tarapore club. Frustrated with the lack of opportunities, he shifted to AV Jayaprakash's training camp where he prospered as a bowler and forced an entry into the Karnataka side. However, the team was packed with bowlers like Srinath, Prasad, Kumble and Sunil Joshi and he had to wait for the Irani Trophy in 1996-97 to show what he was capable of. Coming from a humble background, he was helped by kind team-mates and well-wishers. Jayaprakash waived the tuition fees and gifted him with a bat, Srinath would get him a pair of shoes from abroad, Kumble would gift him clothes and, while in the MRF Pace Academy, Prasad would translate in Kannada for him. After that South African tour, he bowled only in two games in the West Indies series, was included in the squad for the Independence cup in 1997 and was dropped for the tour of Sri Lanka. He never played for India again. Did he miss playing for India? "Playing for Karnataka in those days was like being in the Indian team," Ganesh deadpanned. "You played with all the stars who played for India. One wanted to impress Srinath, Kumble and just wanted to give 100% for the state. I always put my state first and only then me. Karnataka cricket gave everything that I owe today and I am grateful for all the help from various quarters." For a fast bowler, he rates his batting effort in a game and his decision not to bowl in another, as two of his memorable moments of his career. The first came in the 1997-98 Ranji Trophy semi-final against Hyderabad. "Nine wickets had fallen and I and Mansoor Ali Khan were the last men out in the middle. We needed seventeen runs. I refused to touch food at the break, saying I will have only after we win. We came back to knock the required runs. The second moment came in the 1998-99 Ranji final against Madhya Pradesh. Bad light was pushing the game to a draw. The captain gave the ball to me but I said, if I bowl the umpires might offer the light to the batsmen. I suggested that Vijay Bharadwaj should be asked to bowl his offspinners. And Vijay went on to pick six wickets and we won the game. Karnataka first and only then be selfish, is my motto." Srinath was effusive in his praise for him. "I think his contribution to Karnataka cricket has been tremendously significant," Srinath told Cricinfo. "He played his cricket to the fullest. He has bowled his heart out for Karnataka - Ganesh sent down 20355 balls in his first-class career - and I hope he stays in touch with the game." Prasad too joined in with tributes. "A fantastic bowler, he had the great attitude on the field, never-say-die, he used to take up lots of responsibility and always played to win the game," Prasad said. "He has won many a game for Karnataka. It is unfortunate that he didn't play for a long time at higher level. His contribution to Karnataka cricket was tremendous. Once I remember, he was trying to remodel his action and run-up and I have never seen anybody who worked so hard on the action. He was a totally dedicated and committed cricketer." Sriram Veera is an editorial assistant on Cricinfo

I watched him play during India's WI tour - he looked well short of international class. Still, with the career he has had it's strange how he didn't get more chances. This was back in the days when the Indian bowling attack was an all-Karnataka bowling attack. Back then i would buy this magazine called "Cricket Samrat" which covered every miniscule detail of FC cricket. I recall seeing his name at the top of the wicket-taking charts all the time.

[Cricketics]

o ganesh, remember him seeing him play against south africa in 97.. anywayz..

[King]

I reckon he was not one of those that played rep cricket in younger age group unlike Rahul Dravid or Laxman. From what I have heard he was a late starter like Venky. 33 is a bit young to retire from first class cricket considering they are fairly well paid these days in India for domestic cricket.

[Gambit]

The unforgettable Dodda:hysterical::hysterical:

[Predator_05]

Dodo Ganesh. He once took out Greg Blewett's middle stump when playing for the Board President's XI.

[coffee_rules]

Legend, really? I wouldn't even put him in the great category for Karnataka. He inched a little bit more than David Johnson, but not far enough.

[Ram]

Ganesh was one of those guys who always delivered in FC cricket... I clearly remember the 97 S.Africa Tour. Our pace attack was totally new. Ganesh , Johnson and was the third guy Ankola ?

[Predator_05]

Ganesh was one of those guys who always delivered in FC cricket... I clearly remember the 97 S.Africa Tour. Our pace attack was totally new. Ganesh , Johnson and was the third guy Ankola ?

Not clearly enough, since Srinath and Prasad played all three, as did Kumble. Ganesh got two gigs and Johnson got one. It was the best possible bowling attack India could have fielded at the time.

[Ram]

Yup... my bad.. Srinath was there. And that was the time he was getting his nip-backers to "nip back" a long way ! He bowled Dave richardson in one of the tests if I am right..

[Predator_05]

Srinath and Prasad were magnificent on that tour. They got the early breakthroughs and were very difficult to score off, especially with the new ball. South Africa's strategy was simple - see off Srinath and Prasad, score runs off the rest. It worked. India would have won plenty of tests overseas back in those days if they had a proper first change bowler who could maintain the pressure. Kumble did that in India, but he was free runs away from home. The Saffies played like him like a medium pacer.

[Ram]

I would say the main problem of ours was our batting. 100 and 66 in Durban ! that is shameful ! And we never polished off the tail quickly ! Klusener came late and scored a century in one of the tests.. And Cullinan saved a test with help of the tail and weather !

[Predator_05]

I would say the main problem of ours was our batting. 100 and 66 in Durban ! that is shameful ! And we never polished off the tail quickly ! Klusener came late and scored a century in one of the tests.. And Cullinan saved a test with help of the tail and weather !

The 100 and 66 was shameful, but that pitch was a green top, IIRC. That was the same match in which Prasad took a ton of wickets - 9 or 10 in total, was it ? Donald was simply unplayable in those conditions - the pace, the hostility; all too much for the Indians to handle. Bear in mind that back then India's batting lineup was Tendulkar + 10 others. Azhar didn't score often enough, Dravid and Ganguly were talented, but very young. House of cards. ...i vivdly remember the last day of that drawn test. There was a fortuitous rain delay, stopping the game right when SA were reeling. That was India's match but the umpires kept checking for light and stopping play. Towards the end, there were 2/3 wickets remaining, but the umpires called it off for bad light. It was very frustrating. India have never gotten the rub of the green away from home as far as umpiring is concerned.

[Ram]

What happened to David Johson ? He disappeared almost as soon as he came. His action seemed bit "kinky" though...

[Predator_05]

What happened to David Johson ? He disappeared almost as soon as he came. His action seemed bit "kinky" though...

Carbon copy of Shoaib Akhtar's ! I am not kidding. He had the "sling-shot" style release and everything. He seemed quite quick though.

[Ram]

Carbon copy of Shoaib Akhtar's ! I am not kidding. He had the "sling-shot" style release and everything. He seemed quite quick though.

Yes.. he did seem quick. Too bad we didnt have the speed guns then to know what pace he bowled at. And BTW , who can forget Azhar's flying catch off Slater from the bowling of Johnson !

[Gambit]

...i vivdly remember the last day of that drawn test. There was a fortuitous rain delay, stopping the game right when SA were reeling. That was India's match but the umpires kept checking for light and stopping play. Towards the end, there were 2/3 wickets remaining, but the umpires called it off for bad light. It was very frustrating. India have never gotten the rub of the green away from home as far as umpiring is concerned.

Forget the weather. The groundsman was incredibly patriotic and biased and was extremely slow at getting the ground dry again after the showers. The Indian commentators at the time, Sunny and Mohinder IIRC, were laying into him and rightly so.

[Guest BossBhai]

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