Ganguly fights lonely battle and Sachin supports

[liddu]

ADELAIDE: In 2003 he created history here. On his next visit to the Adelaide Oval, the man is desperately striving not to slide into history. This is the story of Sourav Ganguly - of a general being stripped of his stripes. Last time he would just command and a debutant Irfan Pathan would go and lynch the Australians. Today, he requests the bowler to bowl “just five balls please,” at him after the nets. This is Ganguly, trying to come to terms with everyday changing patterns. That he’s been kept out of the one-day team is not going down well at all. Ganguly is very unhappy, and there are no two ways about it. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the man accused of keeping Ganguly out of the ODI squad, swept the issue away in one shot. “I don’t think anyone in the team is affected, it’s more in the media actually. We have an important Test match, there are six more days of Test cricket to be played, and we will talk about the one-day team after that,” says Dhoni. But the one-day team is actually affecting the Test match preparations of one man. India’s first net session after the team announcement gave ample proof. Ganguly was always among the first to enter and have a hit, today he decided to wait, and when his turn came he was in and out of nets in just four minutes. His mind was clearly somewhere else, but Sachin Tendulkar’s eye was on him. He called Ganguly to his side, kept his elbow on Ganguly’s shoulder and tried talking it over. It probably helped a bit, and soon Ganguly was marking his run-up and having a bowl, reiterating his all-round utility for everyone to see - just like he pushed himself during fielding drills early morning, with a few slides and neat throws to earn applause from the on-lookers. Pity the selectors weren’t there. Ganguly would just force a smile at everyone but couldn’t resist asking this question to the first recognisable face. “How are things back in India?” He just nodded his head sideways hearing that protests have marked the country over his omission, and walked off to get padded up again for some knocking with coach-consultant Gary Kirsten. Just then, a senior player walks in to add: “There had to be protests. Guess to play for India now at this stage, you need more than performance as criteria. This one-day team is a good fielding side. I hope it bats well too,” he said leaving little imagination to imply what he meant. At the other end, Ganguly worked with Kirsten for few minutes, discussing technical aspects of leaning over the ball and playing deliveries on the back foot. “You know your shortcomings and you have to overcome it,” Kirsten tried to tell him. “We all know how good you are, and yes, it’s all there in your mind,” he said concluding that little workout. Ganguly agreed with him. “Yes it’s all there in the mind,” he muttered to himself, while being the last man to leave the practice ground. A year back, Ganguly had made a great comeback into the Test and one-day team. It’s time now to plan the greatest of all comebacks - into the one-dayers, and into this Test match to come back from the mental rut and score big runs. http://www.newindpress.com/sports/cricket/aussietour2007/News.asp?Topic=-520&Title=Reports&ID=IES20080122132814&nDate=&Sub=

[Shehezaada]

good to see Sachin support his friends when they're down. Ganguly is a souljah and he'll come back into the one day team.

[fineleg]

With BCCI no one is permanently in or out of the team.

[IndianRenegade]

I wouldn't give the Indian ODI side much of a chance against the Aussies in a format where they are virtually unbeatable. Its fine we have a young side that fields better, but for the fielding to make an impact we need the runs on the board - thats where I don't trust this young Indian team. If India is trashed badly, the selectors won't have any other choice than bringing back RD & SG.

[head coach]

Rubbish. The guy is no ODI player. His days are over. Time to get home after the Tests and have a good night sleep. Too much Drama being played out in open and press is right next to him to pen all these craps.

[yoda]

how sad. :finger:

[Ram]

I give a damn to such speculative reports !

[IndianRenegade]

pls give the link of the articles u post....

[Gambit]

As if this affects Gangs. He is a tough cookie. Unlike Dravid, BCCI's underhanded tactics are not going to wilt him.

[arkay]

Ganguly is in a very enviable position. With the starting of IPL, there would be a lot more demand for him to lead a team. Shah Rukh Khan has already send feelers to Gangs to be captain of his team. I wont be surprised if Vijay Mallaiya gives a similar offer to Rahul Dravid.

[prince40]

Rubbish. The guy is no ODI player. His days are over. Time to get home after the Tests and have a good night sleep. Too much Drama being played out in open and press is right next to him to pen all these craps.

11000+ ODI runs?? u suck:finger:

[liddu]

source added to the first post.......

[head coach]

11000+ ODI runs?? u suck:finger:

So what? If you think the Viagara you use will also help a cricketer play better on the field at 35 then the side effects have gotten your brain!

[prince40]

So what? If you think the Viagara you use will also help a cricketer play better on the field at 35 then the side effects have gotten your brain!

u used the words "he is no ODI player" after 11000+ runs scored- whos talkin bout age:finger:

[head coach]

u used the words "he is no ODI player" after 11000+ runs scored- whos talkin bout age:finger:

Prince, I didnt say "He was no ODI player" I said present not past. Get it?

[Desi Cartman]

I feel sad for him. Its time for him to retire I guess