Laxman impressed with seamers' fitness

[BeautifulGame]

The first thing you notice at India's nets at the MCG is that Zaheer Khan has come back a leaner man, going all out during the training session, watching Umesh Yadav closely, discussing his action before going on to bowl again. Ishant Sharma is bowling too, though not as many overs as Zaheer and Yadav, but still a fair share. Ishant's ankle is still strapped, but there seems to be no talk of a replacement being called up from India. There is general optimism around the Indian camp. Ishant turns around and laughs when he hears a TV reporter say in his piece-to-camera, done in close vicinity of the nets, that Ishant's ankle remains India's main worry and that his selection decision will be made on the morning of the Test, three days from now. Yadav and Zaheer continue to have a discussion around his action, between deliveries. Eric Simmons, the bowling coach, looks relieved too. After the debacle in England, especially when it came to fast bowlers' fitness, you can't be sure until they have played the whole series, but after the initial scare with Ishant's ankle they seem to have recovered. After walking off in the first practice game, and then missing the first innings of the second, Ishant came back to bowl on the last day in Canberra. "Ishant didn't finish the first practice game in Canberra," VVS Laxman said, "but the way he bowled in the second innings of the (Cricket Australia) Chairman's XI in the second match, and also the way he bowled today at the nets is proof that they are both fit and raring to go." Laxman was also referring to Zaheer. His injury on the opening day of the Lord's Test this July was one of the big turning points of the series. Andrew Flintoff had immediately tweeted that if Zaheer didn't come back to bowl, that could be the series to England. In his time out of the team, though, Zaheer seems to have worked hard on his rehabilitation. It is hard to miss, especially in comparison with the shape he went to England in. "When you are playing the international game, injuries become part and parcel of a player's life," Laxman said. "If you see, even the Australians are missing their frontline bowlers because of the injuries. But it's good to see the way Zaheer Khan has come back after his ankle surgery. He is lean and fit, and you can see he has really worked hard on his fitness." India's other concern on overseas tours of late has been the lack of time to prepare, but this time the team came to Australia well in advance and got two tour games apart from the general nets and acclimatisation. Laxman, though, believes that the time they have been able to spend as a team in Australia has been equally important. "Last time we had one side game against Victoria team but it was rained out, so we directly went to a Test match without preparation," Laxman said. "So we are quite happy with the way we have prepared. Also we are able to spend a lot of time together, especially with the one-day boys who have recovered from the tough schedule they had. I think it was quite good the way we spend around 10 days in Canberra and we are quite happy with our preparations, and hopefully we can start performing from the word go." India aren't used to feeling so good before the overseas tour, even though this should be par for the course. They had to deal with such fitness worries in the lead-up to each of their last three tours. However, the indications right now are that as Boxing Day approaches, they are getting more and more confident about the availability of their first three bowling choices - Zaheer, Ishant and Yadav - and also about the time they have spent in local conditions. http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-india-2011/content/current/story/546693.html

[1983-2011]

what are the odds on one of the 3 main pacers getting injured before MCG or during MCG Test

[G_B_]

Zaheer khan looked very fit (externally and whatever i could make out from the tv camera) in the ranji games. He had lost a lot of weight. I think with Zaheer is a matter of getting into the groove.

[Ram]

Its releiving to finally see somone from the Indian camp come forward and say they're confident about the pacers' fitness.

[Lord]

hes speaking relatively comparing to himself

[G_B_]

lol ok then lets not get carried away

[Old guy]

yadav is the only one certain to play zaheer we can take chance with him cos even at 80 percent fitness and with pace down he will be effective n the otherhand ishant w/o fitness and pace should not be selected

[punjabi_khota]

No one ****ing asks them why the hell do they put on weight at the first place. They have world class trainers, facilities etc but saala pehle tond badha lete hain, phir kam kar ke hero bante hain. Zaheer is probably missing >50% of all tests like this, what a shame for such a talented man.

[carnish]

Zaheer will be ok this series... i dont see him breaking down this australia tour... just my gut feeling

[Blue Panther]

Liar. i won't be surprised if laxman was asked to say this to press to avoid any controversies back home.

[kirkutfan]

The guy with the sore back says, "those ankles don't look that bad".

[Pagalpanti]

We'll know how fit they are once the game begins. Zaheer shouldn't break down though as this time he's coming off an injury rather than going into Australia with an injury. Ishant is still a concern.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

the merv hughes theory states that cricket fitness cant be judged on looks. he was a fat aussie **** that bowled well. cricket fitness has to do with rhythm and conditioning. if a guy has spent the last few weeks bowling hundreds of deliveries, he will be in condition to bowl 20 overs in a test. i dunno if zaheer is there yet, but ifeverything holds together he will be there soon enough.

No one ****ing asks them why the hell do they put on weight at the first place. They have world class trainers' date=' facilities etc but saala pehle tond badha lete hain, phir kam kar ke hero bante hain. Zaheer is probably missing >50% of all tests like this, what a shame for such a talented man.[/quote'] they are regular indians that like to eat butter chicken, paneer and drink glasses of desi ghee. don't blame them for being unfit, because its impossible to be fit if your diet is crap. thats why a lot of indian ppl are completely unfit and have 'TONDS'. the typical indian physique is that of a skinny guy with a massive belly. yuvraj and zaheer are good examples. all the training doesn't do much if u keep stuffing yourself with **** food.

[Needforspeed]

Not just a matter of fitness or lasting the test. The real issue is whether Zak and IS feel fit enough to go flat out? We will know when the match begins. A fully fit Zaheer with his rhythm right will be bowling in the 135-138 Kph range while a tentative Zaheer will be bowling in the 131-133 Kph range. Regarding Ishant, I think his line will give us a clue. If he is bowling too many down the leg side, then his left foot is not giving him the correct landing.

[Sachinism]

hes speaking relatively comparing to himself

Yeh thats what I was thinking

[gaurav92]

No one ****ing asks them why the hell do they put on weight at the first place. They have world class trainers' date=' facilities etc but saala pehle tond badha lete hain, phir kam kar ke hero bante hain. Zaheer is probably missing >50% of all tests like this, what a shame for such a talented man.[/quote'] :dito:

[Cricket Tragic]

We will know pretty soon.

[Number]

No one ****ing asks them why the hell do they put on weight at the first place. They have world class trainers' date=' facilities etc but[b'] saala pehle tond badha lete hain, phir kam kar ke hero bante hain. Zaheer is probably missing >50% of all tests like this, what a shame for such a talented man.

:haha:

[Karan114]

We'll know how fit they are once the game begins. Zaheer shouldn't break down though as this time he's coming off an injury rather than going into Australia with an injury. Ishant is still a concern.

Indeed. All very good saying how well they are bowling in the nets, what counts is how they fare in the game itself.

[Brainfade]

Unleash the Zak!