Zaheer moves a step closer to match fitness

[deathmonger]

If Zak ain't fit' date=' then I have no hopes from India'd tour down under. All the hype and hoopla around Umesh and Aaron is okay, but frankly speaking, I DON'T see them as test match material as of now. I know U?mesh improved in the 2nd innings and picked a couple of wickets, but [b']to expect that in Australia is a far far cry IMO.

and would be unfair on them too.

[vamos_rafa]

and would be unfair on them too.

Right!!

[Trundler27]

Boy some posters on here are bitter to the core. Zak along with steyn is the best seamer in world cricket at the moment!!! This guy as a leading bowler single handedly won us the WC by taking 21 wkts and has accomplished a lot more over the years. Injuries are part of a pace bowlers life and granted that he let the team down in the FIRST test in England.... but what was his fault in the remaining 3 thrashings we recieved??? In the second test we were truly on top after taking 8 english wkts but our batting let us down big time over there. I have no problem what so ever with trying out the new breed of quicks by throwing them in the deep end but him being willing to play even 2 ranji games and to prove his fitness (if he does that) is a lot more than some of our superstar batters (sehwag, gambhir, sachin, yuvraj) have done... this sort of bias is total rubbish.

[Cricket Tragic]

Yeah, but the batsmen don't break down in the middle of the match. Even if they did, it won't feck things up for the whole team.

[MCcricket]

Boy some posters on here are bitter to the core. Zak along with steyn is the best seamer in world cricket at the moment!!! This guy as a leading bowler single handedly won us the WC by taking 21 wkts and has accomplished a lot more over the years. Injuries are part of a pace bowlers life and granted that he let the team down in the FIRST test in England.... but what was his fault in the remaining 3 thrashings we recieved??? In the second test we were truly on top after taking 8 english wkts but our batting let us down big time over there. I have no problem what so ever with trying out the new breed of quicks by throwing them in the deep end but him being willing to play even 2 ranji games and to prove his fitness (if he does that) is a lot more than some of our superstar batters (sehwag, gambhir, sachin, yuvraj) have done... this sort of bias is total rubbish.

I agree looks like some people get carried away, he is one main reason we have been winning at home and abroad last 3 to 4 years, please know ur cricket.He will play atleast 3 years more

[deathmonger]

I agree looks like some people get carried away' date=' he is one main reason we have been winning at home and abroad last 3 to 4 years, please know ur cricket.He will play atleast 3 years more[/quote'] I hope so

[vamos_rafa]

Young pacers' emergence good for Indian cricket: Zaheer NEW DELHI: Itching to attain peak fitness ahead of the tough tour of Australia later this year, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan reckons the emergence of youngsters like Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron bodes well for Indian cricket. Yadav caught the eye of many during India's one-day series against England and the subsequent first Test against the West Indies and equally impressive was Aaron in the ODIs, and their efforts did not escape Zaheer's attention. "It is a positive sign for Indian cricket. I was watching the morning session (of Day 2 of the first Test against West Indies) and it was heartening to see Umesh bowl in that channel. They have the pace," Zaheer said. Training with his Mumbai Ranji Trophy teammates for the past few couple of weeks, Zaheer said his immediate aim was to regain 100 per cent fitness, following which he will take a call on which match he would play in the top domestic tournament. "I have not yet decided but I will take a call on that very soon. I am trying to regain 100 per cent fitness. I have doing full session and will take a call in consultation with the physio at the National Cricket Academy," he said at the sidelines of a promotional programme on Friday. Mumbai are scheduled to play Karnataka from November 17, followed by matches against Orissa from November 29 and Saurashtra from December 6, and Zaheer is likely to play in at least one of the three matches to prove his fitness ahead of the Indian team's departure for Australia on December 13. Troubled by various injuries for a major part of his career, the left-arm seamer said that he wants to be part of the Indian team in Australia from start to finish. "I have never been part of a full tour of Australia, so I want to play the full tour this time around," Zaheer said. Zaheer broke down after bowling only 13.3 overs, during which he picked up two wickets, in the Lord's Test against England in July. Troubled by a recurrent hamstring strain, Zaheer also underwent a surgery in England for an ankle impingement on his right foot. He was on crutches for some time following the surgery, but later improved to be able to bowl at the nets. "The emphasis is on bowling. I have been bowling for about two weeks. I am feeling good, and I am only building up (towards match fitness)," the 33-year-old said. Asked about the hype around Sachin Tendulkar's impending hundredth international century, Zaheer said the fans expect nothing less than a century whenever the champion batsman walks out to bat. "You always expect a century from Sachin. He will score, but the question is when," he said. Tendulkar seemed on course to achieve the much-awaited landmark before a Devendra Bishoo googly foxed him when on 76 on day four of the first Test against West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Wednesday.

[cowboysfan]

nobody is saying we shouldnt pick him if he is "healthy".we just need to make sure we go into the tests assuming that Zak will break down and not give up playing for the rest of the tour.

[Fontaine]

We definitely need a 100% Zaheer in the Aus series. He knows how to bowl to their batsmen and has a lot of success against them in the home series. But he shouldn't be an automatic selection. As long as he can prove he's fit in ranji trophy then he should get selected and also prove his fitness in the warmup matches in Australia. If he does get selected then the selectors definitely need to have a plan B and have other bowlers ready to take fly in and take over if he or any other bowler gets injured unlike last time where plan B was to fly in a completely out of match practice RP Singh.

[King Tendulkar]

He will be ready for aus tour. Even 90% ZK should be taken

[Show_stopper]

I expect him to break down again during the tests in Aus.

[Pagalpanti]

Just saw his interview, looked fit to me, didn't seem like he had put on a lot of weight like many posters suggested.

[Feed]

I have not set a date for return : Zaheer More... I have not set a date for return Debjeet Kundu, Hindustan Times November 12, 2011 It's not easy to watch your team getting pulverised from the sidelines on foreign soil, especially if you carry the tag of India's best new-ball bowler. But the summer in England didn't leave an injured Zaheer Khan with another option. Back at the nets after a "frustrating" hiatus, the left-arm fast bowler shared his thoughts with HT. The series in Australia starts after Christmas do you hope to make the trip? I haven't set a date when I'll return to the fold. I guess I need some considerable time to heal. But I have started bowling at the nets and hope to be in the groove soon. Your injury breaks are otherwise productive - you made a foray into restaurant business the last time, and this time it's the online clothing brand, of which you are a co-owner. (Laughs) Well, they keep me busy. But that doesn't mean I want to be injured anymore. How difficult was it to watch India suffer at the hands of England? Personally, the series started on a disastrous note for me. And it continued being so. One thing sportspersons dread is injury. But I always pray that even if I get injured, let it be during the net sessions before the match. It's a terrible feeling to watch the team lose, while I'm not able to shoulder my responsibilities. Was it particularly difficult as India went in with the ODI champions' tag? Not really. Yes, we carried a lot of expectations. And also, things didn't go our way in England. But even in the losses, the team showed a lot of character. How do you see the new crop of fast bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron? They have got a good start. But to turn them into assets, a considerable amount of grooming needs to go in. Unless a young pacer is looked after properly and given proper guidance, endurance at the highest level doesn't come. You talk about grooming, but every time a talent is discovered, we see a dip in his ability to bowl fast. Why does this happen in India that we don't have a bowler clocking over 140kmph consistently? It's difficult to pinpoint one reason why we don't have bowlers who bowl fast, consistently... or rather, why our quick ones slow down. I guess it's to do with the sub-continental conditions, apart from the pressure of sustaining oneself at the highest level. Bowlers start by bowling quick, but with time realise the importance of keeping it tight or concentrating on line-length. Bowling quick doesn't always help. Sportsmen are venturing into various businesses. Leave aside the money bit, any other association can help take your mind off the game at least, for some time. With the amount cricket that's played these days, other activities help you relax.

[Rightarmfast]

Boy some posters on here are bitter to the core. Zak along with steyn is the best seamer in world cricket at the moment!!! This guy as a leading bowler single handedly won us the WC by taking 21 wkts and has accomplished a lot more over the years. Injuries are part of a pace bowlers life and granted that he let the team down in the FIRST test in England.... but what was his fault in the remaining 3 thrashings we recieved??? In the second test we were truly on top after taking 8 english wkts but our batting let us down big time over there. I have no problem what so ever with trying out the new breed of quicks by throwing them in the deep end but him being willing to play even 2 ranji games and to prove his fitness (if he does that) is a lot more than some of our superstar batters (sehwag, gambhir, sachin, yuvraj) have done... this sort of bias is total rubbish.

Living in the past wont help. He ' WAS ' one of the best alongwith Steyn, till he had to leave the field in England. For me, he is past his sell by date. He is a finished material and exudes no confidence atleast to the Indian fans.

[Dravid_TheWall]

Yeah' date=' but the batsmen don't break down in the middle of the match. Even if they did, it won't feck things up for the whole team.[/quote'] Gambhir broke down in Eng series. We had to reshuffle the batting twice. It did screw us up. Every player must be fit. The reason an injured bowler hurted us much more is because we didn't have anyone to hold up one end all day like how kumble or old bhajji could. We need Zak back. He is one of only two class test seamers we currently have.

[Karan114]

I expect him to break down again during the tests in Aus.

Inevitable

[deathmonger]

Gambhir broke down in Eng series. We had to reshuffle the batting twice. It did screw us up. Every player must be fit. The reason an injured bowler hurted us much more is because we didn't have anyone to hold up one end all day like how kumble or old bhajji could. We need Zak back. He is one of only two class test seamers we currently have.

the other being Ishu. :winky:

[rkt.india]

Gambhir broke down in Eng series. We had to reshuffle the batting twice. It did screw us up. Every player must be fit. The reason an injured bowler hurted us much more is because we didn't have anyone to hold up one end all day like how kumble or old bhajji could. We need Zak back. He is one of only two class test seamers we currently have.

Gambhir had freak injuries by ball hitting him. He did not have any fitness problem.

[carnish]

who is the other one?

ISHANT SHARMA.... way better than your trundler GUL:yay::yay:

[Ultimate_Game]

Zaheer's injury status Anyone has any idea or update on Zaheer's injury? Hasn't seen any information or news about Zaheer at all. Is he on schedule to be match-fit for Aussie series? We really do need Zaheer for Aus series to guide the likes of Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron, and to spearhead our bowling attack.