Doubts over Indian players' fitness ( Munaf and Vijay)

[J P K]

Indian medium-pacer Munaf Patel, who missed the last two ODIs against West Indies, did not bowl during a training session on Friday, leading to speculation over his fitness and availability for the first Test that begins on June 20 in Jamaica. There has been no clear message from the Indian camp on Munaf's fitness. India are already without Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth, who were ruled out of the series due injuries. "I am not in position to comment on it [Munaf's fitness] now," India's coach Duncan Fletcher had said at the end of the ODI series. "As far as I know he will be fit for the first Test." Munaf attended Friday's net session only to stand and watch the other bowlers in action. There were more anxious moments for India when opener M Vijay got hit on his left hand by a delivery from left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cotterell, who plays for Jamaica. Vijay was treated by the physio and his team-mates will be hoping he hasn't suffered serious injury. Cotterell impressed with his pace and troubled nearly all the Indian batsmen in the nets. Cotterell, who started playing cricket at the age of nine, is in the army and was on duty during the fifth ODI at Sabina Park, guarding the pitch in the innings break. The training session at Sabina Park was also a first for Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni, Pragyan Ojha, M Vijay and Abhinav Mukund, who have joined the Test squad. The batsmen had extended knocks in the nets and Dravid also had a long chat with Fletcher. Dravid had two batting sessions: first against the bowlers, and then to throw downs from fielding coach Trevor Penney. "It was just a general conversation," Dravid said, of his interaction with Fletcher. "The one-day team has spent time with him and now the guys who have come for the Tests will get some time. "Fletcher is someone who has been in the cricket world for long. He has played first-class cricket, played for his country and coached national sides," Dravid said. "So it will be interesting talking to him about his experiences, about the players he played with and coached. All the players, especially batsmen like Jacques Kallis, rate him very high." As the Indians practiced in the late afternoon, the groundstaff were watering and rolling the pitch. The surface looked shiny and gleamed. There was some grass on it. Charles Josephs, the curator, said there will be pace and bounce. Dravid said the pitch at Sabina Park always had some bounce and it would be a good Test match. "It's generally got good bounce from my experience, apart from the first Test I played here," he said. "And it's going to be a good challenge. They have a good pace attack. And whatever said and done, on wickets that are going to suit them, their attack is going be quite a handful. "It's going to be a good test for all of us, not only the younger members of the team. And hopefully we also have the bowling to knock them over. So, if they prepare a wicket that is good for fast bowling, we have got some quick guys who can make a difference." http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-india-2011/content/story/519478.html

[Pagalpanti]

That'll be a big blow for us if he isn't fit. The other 2 bowlers being PK and Mithun. PK can get swing early on but I doubt if he can be any good with his slower (80kph) ones will affect any WI batsman, they might play him all day without any trouble. Mithun is even worse, bowls wide and short. Wont mind India going with 3 spinners but thats unrealistic.

[Sachinism]

This is turning out worse every other day lol

That'll be a big blow for us if he isn't fit. The other 2 bowlers being PK and Mithun. PK can get swing early on but I doubt if he can be any good with his slower (80kph) ones will affect any WI batsman, they might play him all day without any trouble. Mithun is even worse, bowls wide and short. Wont mind India going with 3 spinners but thats unrealistic.

If Munaf was playing, we would have had an extra spinner there anyway

[Karan114]

If Munaf was playing' date=' we would have had an extra spinner there anyway[/quote'] :giggle:

[Karan114]

Abhimanyu Mithun will not be available for the first West Indies-India Test that begins on June 20 in Jamaica, due to visa issues. He is expected to arrive in the Caribbean only on June 20. Mithun and Praveen Kumar - who is already in Jamaica, since he was a part of the limited-overs squad - were drafted into the Test squad as replacements for the injured Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth.

[Cricket Tragic]

Reminds me of the Wright story. When John Wright came for an interview to India, he didn't have an Indian visa. The BCCI told him not to worry about the visa and that they'll take care once he lands. So he flew from London to Frankfurt but the airline refused to let him board the flight to India. He got on the phone with Dungarpur (I think) and the BCCI spoke to the airline and he managed to make it through. He also wrote about excess baggage. He was flying out to NZ for a holiday and had loads of excess baggage but the airline didn't charge him. He wrote that when you're part of the Indian team, there is no such thing as excess baggage when flying out of India.

[jf1gp_1]

what a shocker; munaf didnt survive a whole ODI + test series

[saneindian]

Saw a ticker on NDTV quoting Fletcher that Munaf will play in the 1st test. Not sure how correct the information is though.

[J P K]

Team India denied practice ahead of 1st Test (injury scare for vijay ) Team India has been denied practice ahead of the crucial First Test match against West Indies beginning on Monday. Thanks to some poor practice pitches. The Fast Bowlers raised a concern on bowling in that track which in turn prevented the batsmen from having a hit. Also Murali Vijay got hit in the glove against a local fast bowler and has been sent for a MRI Scan making him a doubtful starter. India will already miss the services of regular openers - Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. MS Dhoni has made it clear that Vijay and Mukund will be favorites to begin the innings and if Vijay is ruled out then Parthiv Patel might open the innings. Fletcher had a heated argument with the ground staff clearly expressing his unhappiness with the pitch. The first of the three tests begins tomorrow with India already won the ODI series. http://www.criclounge.com/news/2820/Fletcher-slams-Ground-staff-for-poor-practice-pitch.html

[jairamesh]

Also Murali Vijay got hit in the glove against a local fast bowler and has been sent for a MRI Scan making him a doubtful starter.

Talk about bigging up the West Indian Test bowlers...jeez. :hysterical:

[Karan114]

Dhoni worried about pacers' fitness Dhoni worried about pacers' fitness Press Trust of India, Updated: June 19, 2011 Kingston: He's back after a rejuvenating break, but Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is already a worried man as his pacers are struggling to be fit for the long season ahead. "It is important that they are fit or else it will have an impact. It's not that you are bowling four or 10 overs - you could be bowling 25 overs, whether it be a spinner or a paceman. You want your best bowlers to play and be at least 70-80 per cent fit for the longer format," Dhoni said ahead of the first Test against the West Indies starting, on Monday. "Only then you will have the mental and physical space to achieve it," he added. India is beset with injury worries ahead of the Test as lately impressive Munaf Patel is suffering from a right elbow injury. Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth, originally named in the Test squad, could never accompany the squad here due to injuries. One of the replacement bowler, Abhimanyu Mithun of Karnataka, is yet to arrive in the Caribbean due to his visa issues. And as if this was not enough, opener Murali Vijay picked up an injury on his right forefinger in his very first practice session on Friday. He left for an X-ray on his finger on Saturday. India play three Tests in the Caribbean followed by four in England this summer. Later in the season, they visit Australia where four more Tests are slated in their calendar. Amid all this, Dhoni wants his team to stick to the basics and look to play to its strength. "We put a lot of emphasis on doing small things right. Irrespective of how many Tests you have to play abroad, if you do the basics right it will help us perform given the potential we have," stressed the all-conquering Indian captain. "West Indies have a good bowling attack. But Test cricket is all about negotiating good balls and then push the bowlers to bowl in your areas; score enough runs for the bowlers to defend it," he explained. Dhoni is aware that his side is without its best players but he sees it as an opportunity for the younger lot to prove its mettle. "It's a good exposure for youngsters. Tests are a lot tougher. It's important they play Tests and gain more experience. It would help them take right decisions; help them groom themselves. "You want each individual to enjoy cricket, you don't want pressure on the youngsters and look to create an atmosphere where they are loving the challenge," he said. "If there is no challenge, you don't know their mettle. Fortunately, IPL has helped youngsters to play in front of 35,000 people. "Still they need help from seniors on how to conduct themselves on and off the field. All these little things contribute," he added. The fortnight-long break from international cricket was a welcome one for Dhoni. "Personally it helped me. Suddenly you find all those small injuries vanish. There is plenty of energy now and it's not as if you are running on reserves. You are back in action. "I could have net sessions where I could do my wicketkeeping, batting and bowling for fitness," he said. "One thing I have never done, whether it was cricket in Ranchi or school, is to sit and think what I have done. May be you reflect on what you need to do to improve but as a cricketer, you need to stick to the basics. You need to have that frame of mind," he added. Dhoni said neither riches nor fame and glamour have been the motivating factor for him. "I love cricket, I love sports and that's why you want to turn up in the field everytime. I enjoy the competition against the opponent; always trying to be honest, fair and competitive. "It's a basic urge (in me), be it in gully cricket, school or anywhere else. Everybody has the same perception about sport and the same it has been for me; be it gully or international cricket," he said. http://www.ndtv.com/article/sports/dhoni-worried-about-pacers-fitness-174795

[Sir john]

MSD :hmmm: pk and ishant are fit.

[cowboysfan]

Doubts over Indian players' fitness ( Munaf and Vijay) this is just great,i really dont want to see papu opening with a debutant on a quick pitch.

[akshayxyz]

Munaf should be ultimate test-case for the steroids, performance enhancement drugs/supplements.