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Cricket
By G. Viswanath
CALM BEFORE THE STORM:V.V.S. Laxman during the practice session at the WACA on Saturday. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan
PERTH, JAN. 31. The Indian team has enjoyed a thoroughly well deserved long break from competitive cricket. It's sort of a holiday after the toughest seven days of the VB tri-series during which it had to confront Australia and Zimbabwe. After the last gasp victory over the determined Zimbabweans at the Adelaide Oval, the Indians could afford to unwind. The fixture against the Australian Prime Minister's XI at Canberra also turned out to be a pleasant diversion. Those with shoulder and leg injuries benefited from the seven-day rest, except for Anil Kumble whose troubling shoulder needs further treatment and rest so that he can be fit for the final. Doubtless the back-to-back Test and one-day series was a daunting exercise for the Indians. The intensity of the competition taxed even the healthiest. In the circumstances, Adam Gilchrist's observation that it was the most energy-sapping series was not surprising at all. "It's been a great four or five days off and it's been a great refresher for me. I am excited at the thought of leading the team out at the WACA. I realise Ricky (Ponting) is the captain and I am not here to make dramatic changes. I have to just get the guys tone up and tune them up for the finals,'' said Gilchrist. The Indian team has had two full training and net sessions at the WACA and the batsmen and bowlers did not appear to be going through the motions. The main batsmen had a long session on three different strips. Both the teams are gearing up for the three-match final that will start five days from now at Melbourne. Ganguly said that except for Kumble, every other member of the 17-man squad is fit. Virender Sehwag has been declared fit and India will return to the now established opening pair — Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag — for the day match against Australia. "There's a big chance of going into the match at full strength. They are all fit except Kumble. We will try and play our best cricket and win. Every game is an international and we should all play to win. We have had a great tour and we have got to finish it off well. We are professional cricketers,'' said Ganguly. After seeing the names of New Zealand's Daniel Vettori and Zimbabwe's Raymond Price in the honours' board in the dressing room, Ganguly said: "Every side needs a spinner, otherwise the attack becomes one-dimensional. Spinners get wickets in Australia. Vettori and Price have taken wickets here. Australia is a place for a genuine spinner. Kartik bowled well at Sydney. He has to make the most of it in the absence of Kumble. He has done well against Australia at home in the TVS Cup series and I am sure he will be looking forward to bowl on this wicket because there will be bounce.'' All the three matches between India and Australia have been touch and go affairs so far. "There are two very good sides in the tournament and from Melbourne onwards it has been pretty close between us. I think one side has to play poorly for a match to turn into a one-sided affair. The next few games are going to be close as well. It's been a pretty long tournament. We played 11 games in the World Cup. A thought can be given to make it three games each and the final. This would be fair after a four-Test series.'' The stop-gap captain Gilchrist has an excellent record as captain. He has been captain in five matches and won all five. He acknowledged India's performance on the tour saying: "They have played so well. I am not going to say we are going to come out with a super plan. We will try and execute our plan and see how it comes through. We have been a bit patchy at times and good at times. The thing is they have such good players who capitalised when we are not getting our plan right.'' Perth is his hometown and Gichrist said he felt good to be back home. Talking of the pitch he said: "The fast bowlers will be keen. Obviously any fast bowler who goes to the WACA gets a little more excited than in probably any other ground in the world.''
The teams: India (from): Sourav Ganguly (Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Hemang Badani, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, L. Balaji, Ashish Nehra, Murali Kartik, Sanjay Bangar, Rohan Gavaskar, Amit Bhandari, Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble. Australia (from): Adam Gilchrist (Captain), Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Brad Williams, Ian Harvey, Brad Hogg, Andy Bichel. Umpires: Messrs. Steve Bucknor and Daryl Harper, Third: Simon Taufel; Match Referee: Clive Lloyd. Hours of play (IST): 8 a.m. to 11.30 and 12.15 p.m. onwards.
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