The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Good news from Leipus

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 22, 2005

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Good news from Leipus

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, JAN. 21. Andrew Leipus is about to wing his way to Adelaide for a masters course but the physio who strengthened Indian cricketers and mended their injuries, had some good news while he made a brief sojourn to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here on Friday afternoon.

Leipus was optimistic about the recovery made by L. Balaji and was keen that Sachin Tendulkar's rest and rehabilitation for his tennis elbow injury is complete. "Balaji is doing well. His injury has healed and he is fit that way but he is not match fit. He has had a few spells but tires while bowling quick for longer spells. He should be okay and yes he will be fit for the series against Pakistan. I met him in Mumbai," Leipus said.

On Tendulkar's rest from domestic cricket, Leipus said, "Sachin needs complete rest and there will be no cricket for him till may be February end. Every injury needs a healing process but often we have got him ready to play and that has interrupted his recovery process and when there is an interruption there will be deterioration. He has been told to rest completely so that the recovery is complete. No lifting stuff for him, not even a coffee cup. Wish I was there when he scores his 35th hundred but I had to make a choice."

Defining moments

Nostalgia and the need to move on are two defining emotions that govern Leipus now while he packs his bag for a flight to Australia after a week in Mumbai. "It has been a privilege to be part of the system here. The buzz around the series against Pakistan will be terrific but I had to move on. I have been associated with International sport at the highest level but I needed a break, a time to gain more creative inputs, a kind of stimulus that will build on what I have learnt on the field. The masters course I will be doing is a kind of consolidation on what I have already learnt on and off the field over the years and that will help me in the long run," Leipus said.

On his equations with the BCCI, Leipus said, "the BCCI has been good to me. I have met Mr. Dalmiya and he has kept the door open for me and it is heartening to know that my work has been respected. I am still very much a part of Indian cricket. I have come here to the National Cricket Academy to deal with the administrative and other details pertaining to physios and trainers here in India, may be after six months we might have a seminar here and when I learn more abroad I will surely get back and spread the education process here too.

May be after six months if there is a rethink I may still get back. Leaving all this has not been easy but a lot can change in six months."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport