Zaheer building up to full fitness

[King Tendulkar]

not enough bowlers would want him to play 1 more match bowl 15 overs per innings and bowl a long spell like 7 over spell if he cant do that he is not fit enough yes steyn would be touring but he will only play if he is atleast bowling fit

Well even if ZK is fit to only play by 3rd test, thats fine by me and means he must be taken. You guys forget how good he is

[achilles]

I read "Odisha" and rolled my eyes :facepalm:

[Old guy]

yes but in one report they said he might not play next ranji match thats why i said it u can call him fit for tests yet thats my point he needs to play atleast 2 more games before calling him fit this is not enough his class was never questioned thats hwy he was conditionally selected in first place

[Karan114]

lol he needs to play next match and bowl 30 odd overs in 2 innings then only i will say yes he is fit in first innings he didn't really gave his all only gave his best in 1 spell is it enough ?! no

I am not buying this' date='he needs to play another ranji match.[/quote'] :dito: This is a good start and nothing more...long way to go to prove his fitness yet.

[Ultimate_Game]

Zaheer has got to play the next game and bowl lot more overs than what he did in this game. looks like he will break down in the Australia series once again if he takes these Ranji Trophy games lightly.

[J P K]

Zaheer still needs to do lot of bowling to get fit: Ganguly Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels that India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan needs to bowl a lot in order to be fully fit for the first Test against Australia starting on the Boxing Day. "I feel Zaheer is still not hundred percent fit and we can't afford to have a 50 percent fit Zaheer Khan in Australia. For India, Zaheer still needs to play a lot more matches and for that he needs to be fully fit. One Ranji Trophy game is not enough," Ganguly said at launch of Wisden India in association with Fidelis World. "Still there are 24 days left and I believe he will play another Ranji game as well as two practice matches in Australia. The BCCI has planned his schedule well unlike 10 years back when I had to appear for a fitness test only 10 days prior to an important tour," Ganguly added. Ravichandran Ashwin may have had a dream start to his Test career but he maintained bowling in Australia conditions will be an altogether different challenge for the Tamil Nadu tweaker. "Ashwin is a gifted cricketer. But bowling in India with SG Test balls against an inconsistent West Indies batting line-up is completely different from bowling with Kookaburra balls. Also the quality of batsmanship will certainly be higher," Ganguly assessed. Asked about Praveen Kumar's ideal replacement, Ganguly didn't commit any names. "We should have a good young pacer whoever it is. As far as Irfan is concerned, I have heard that he is bowling well but my question would be whether he is good enough to get into the team on his bowling alone." Ganguly seemed delighted that Ashish Nehra is playing the longer version although the seamer himself is reluctant about playing day's cricket. "It's nice to see Ashish playing day's cricket. Also he is getting wickets which is a good sign. I don't think that not being in central contracts is an issue. He is only 32 and still can play for India for sometime." For someone who has always felt that skill has nothing to do with age, it was no wonder that he found former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns' jibe at Ricky Ponting being an "elephant in the dressing room" as a "ridiculous" statement. "He (Cairns) said that yesterday and today I guess Ponting batting close to 70 (67 batting). I have always said this and I maintain, please don't judge a Ponting, Tendulkar or a Dravid by their age." On a different note, Ganguly who is also the chairman of the BCCI technical committee feels that something needs to be done regarding the structure of Ranji Trophy format. "I know there are times when the second innings becomes immaterial unlike our match today against Haryana. But certainly we need to look at possibilities whether we can make it a five-day affair," he said. He has seen a presentation on VJD method the rain rule used for domestic matches and he replied with a smile, "I found it complicated just like the D/L method during my playing day

[pensionplan]

Zaheer has got to play the next game and bowl lot more overs than what he did in this game. looks like he will break down in the Australia series once again if he takes these Ranji Trophy games lightly.

It is a joke that they will let this guy get away with this. Selectors said two Ranji games while selecting and they need to stick to that.

[Ultimate_Game]

It is a joke that they will let this guy get away with this. Selectors said two Ranji games while selecting and they need to stick to that.

Agreed. He has got to play in the 2nd game and push himself by bowling longer spells. The only acceptable excuse for him not to play the 2nd Ranji game should be if he's flying to Australia ASAP and will be bowling in nets and practice games.

[pensionplan]

Agreed. He has got to play in the 2nd game and push himself by bowling longer spells. The only acceptable excuse for him not to play the 2nd Ranji game should be if he's flying to Australia ASAP and will be bowling in nets and practice games.

Do not count on the nets since nothing can simulate the real game scenaro and given the two practice games are 2 day affairs they should not let him go till the next Ranji game ends on the 9th which by the way will still be on time for the 2 practice games. Looks like the lazy ZK prefers a few free days and home made biryani before the tour instead of appearing in the Ranji tie.

[rkt.india]

India can't afford a half-fit Zaheer in Australia: Ganguly Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels that India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan needs to bowl a lot in order to be fully fit for the first Test against Australia starting on the Boxing Day. "I feel Zaheer is still not hundred percent fit and we can't afford to have a 50 percent fit Zaheer Khan in Australia. For India, Zaheer still needs to play a lot more matches and for that he needs to be fully fit. One Ranji Trophy game is not enough," Ganguly said at launch of Wisden India in association with Fidelis World. "Still there are 24 days left and I believe he will play another Ranji game as well as two practice matches in Australia. The BCCI has planned his schedule well unlike 10 years back when I had to appear for a fitness test only 10 days prior to an important tour," Ganguly added. Ravichandran Ashwin may have had a dream start to his Test career but Ganguly maintained bowling in Australia conditions will be an altogether different challenge for the Tamil Nadu tweaker. "Ashwin is a gifted cricketer. But bowling in India with SG Test balls against an inconsistent West Indies batting line-up is completely different from bowling with Kookaburra balls. Also the quality of batsmanship will certainly be higher," Ganguly assessed. Asked about Praveen Kumar's ideal replacement, Ganguly didn't commit any names. "We should have a good young pacer whoever it is. As far as Irfan is concerned, I have heard that he is bowling well but my question would be whether he is good enough to get into the team on his bowling alone." Ganguly seemed delighted that Ashish Nehra is playing the longer version although the seamer himself is reluctant about playing day's cricket. "It's nice to see Ashish playing day's cricket. Also he is getting wickets which is a good sign. I don't think that not being in central contracts is an issue. He is only 32 and still can play for India for sometime." For someone who has always felt that skill has nothing to do with age, it was no wonder that he found former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns' jibe at Ricky Ponting being an "elephant in the dressing room" as a "ridiculous" statement. "He (Cairns) said that yesterday and today I guess Ponting is batting close to 70 (67 batting). I have always said this and I maintain, please don't judge a Ponting, Tendulkar or a Dravid by their age." On a different note, Ganguly who is also the chairman of the BCCI technical committee feels that something needs to be done regarding the structure of Ranji Trophy format. "I know there are times when the second innings becomes immaterial unlike our match today against Haryana. But certainly we need to look at possibilities whether we can make it a five-day affair," he said. He has seen a presentation on VJD method the rain rule used for domestic matches and he replied with a smile, "I found it complicated just like the D/L method during my playing days." http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/47103/india-cant-afford-a-half-fit-zaheer-in-australia:-ganguly/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=gadget

[Feed]

Need to find my bowling rhythm: Zaheer Khan More... CUTTACK, December 3, 2011 Need to find my bowling rhythm: Zaheer Khan SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The spotlights were trained on the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match between Mumbai and Odisha here for one reason. India pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, down with hamstring and ankle injury and out of cricket for a few months, decided to test his body and mind in an effort to regain his place in the Indian team for the gruelling Australian tour later this month. After the game, Zaheer spoke to the National media at his hotel on Friday before leaving for Mumbai. On his feelings after the match: Physically, I am feeling absolutely fine. Obviously, as I bowl more and more I will get better and better. I need to get the rhythm going. I am happy with the way things are moving, but I feel my bowling rhythm needs to be better. On his condition after 22 overs: I am feeling a bit tired, which is good because it means that I have put in the effort. My return to bowling is looking good; probably a week ahead of schedule. Everything is on track and everyone is happy, the physios are happy and I am also happy. On the real test in this game: As I have not played a single game for four months, the main thing I was looking for was getting back into match environment, spending time on the field. It is about spending six hours on the field and then coming on to bowl a spell the next day. It is not easy to do that. I bowled a six-over spell on the second day and then again I bowled 16 overs. So in one-and-a-half days I managed to bowl 22 overs which were an exact simulation of a Test match. I needed to build match fitness. Things went absolutely fine for me. But now I will need to get better. On his decision to play the next match: I would like to play the match (against Saurashtra at Rajkot). That is what I have conveyed to the MCA. I am looking forward to it. That game is also crucial for me. After that game, I will see how I feel. So far everything is on track.

[Needforspeed]

Do not count on the nets since nothing can simulate the real game scenaro and given the two practice games are 2 day affairs they should not let him go till the next Ranji game ends on the 9th which by the way will still be on time for the 2 practice games. Looks like the lazy ZK prefers a few free days and home made biryani before the tour instead of appearing in the Ranji tie.

:haha::haha: Seriously dude ..I saw him on TV being interviewed during the Mumbai test and he looked very fit (flat abs)

[vamos_rafa]

He needs to play another Ranji game IMO. Odhisha(oodibaba!!) was into much of a challenge. And the fact is, we are getting happy over him surviving 22 overs!! How can 22 injury-free overs ensure that he would be fit enough for a gruesome Oz tour?He needs to bowl longer spells and that too flat-out.

[CG]

It will be a huge suprise if he lasts 4 tests in australia,But we need to have backup ready for 4th test.

[carnish]

he is gonna crack down before the aussie tour...

[Feed]

Zaheer building up to full fitness More... RAJKOT, December 5, 2011 Zaheer building up to full fitness SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Zaheer Khan is giving himself every chance to prove his fitness before he boards the plane to Australia for the four-Test series. Not that anyone expects him to be as fit as a fiddle as he was some 11 years ago when he made his debut against Bangladesh and certainly not after parts of his body has gone under the knife a few times. His shoulder and ankle needed serious repair in the past and once again, last July, he was forced to leave the Lord's arena with a damaged hamstring. After a quick diagnosis and surgery in August to mend his ankle and a long rehabilitation period, he sent down 22 overs against Orissa in a Ranji Trophy match at Cuttack last week and picked up four wickets. He had played a small part in Mumbai's innings win. But on the third day of the match, he called the Secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association to confirm that he would be available for the match against Saurashtra at the Khanderi Stadium. Zaheer took the early morning flight to Rajkot on Monday and preferred to rest his limbs in the room. According to MCA secretary Nitin Dalal, the left-arm seamer would most probably spend some time in the hotel gymnasium. Zaheer 273 wickets in 79 Tests has played only three Tests in Australia (two at Melbourne, 2003-04 and 2007-08) and one at Brisbane (2003-04) and has taken 10 wickets at an average of 40. He had figures of five for 95 at Brisbane in 2003-04 and four for 94 at Melbourne in 2007-08. He's keen and eager to play a full series in Australia. He began his return to first-class competition with a six-over spell and a wicket.

[panther]

is zak a definite for the first test or is his fitness still scratchy

[mishra]

Good.... But still unsure

Zaheer took the early morning flight to Rajkot on Monday and preferred to rest his limbs in the room. According to MCA secretary Nitin Dalal, the left-arm seamer would most probably spend some time in the hotel gymnasium.

[Karan114]

is zak a definite for the first test or is his fitness still scratchy

Not definite yet. He will have a fair bit of bowling to do in this game (sounds like a flat track, Saurashtra are 240 for 2) so let's see how he pulls up after this game. If he makes it through then there are the warm up games in Australia.

[Hell Raiser]

Zaheer building up fitness:yay: but only to get injured again.:((