The Hindu : Sport : Parthiv keen to regain lost ground

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Sunday, Jul 10, 2005

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Parthiv keen to regain lost ground

Sports Reporter

ENTHUSIASTIC BUNCH: Some of the probables going through their workouts in the conditioning camp. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: The wheel has indeed come a full circle for Parthiv Patel. A few years back, Parthiv, then a trainee at the National Cricket Academy, was earmarked for higher glory and was sent to the Australian Cricket Academy as part of the Border-Gavaskar scholarship.

Soon at 17, he donned the India cap in the Test at Trent Bridge against England in 2002 and was geared up for a steady climb that was embellished with knocks of 62 and 69 under testing conditions against attacks as varied as that of Australia and Pakistan.

However, the slump was as sudden as his ascent to the top. Shoddy work behind the stumps forced the selectors to wield the axe and blood Dinesh Kaarthick in for the Mumbai Test against the Aussies, last season. Parthiv is back again in the familiar environs of Bangalore for the conditioning camp though this time around he is another contender for the wicket-keeper's slot while Dinesh Kaarthick and M.S. Dhoni have edged past him into the Indian team.

Injury blues

Parthiv however believes that he can bounce back. "Last season nothing went right for me. After I was dropped from the Indian team, I played for Baroda in the first class season and in fact, got an 87 against Mumbai but an injury kept me out for some time. Batting wise I was okay but wicket-keeping was the bad part and that cost me a place in the Test squad against Australia at Mumbai. But I am confident now and I know what it takes to succeed at the International level because I have had the experience of playing at that level for two and a half years. I can handle the pressure and I know the value of a calm head which I learnt while I scored those half centuries when the team was in a crisis," Parthiv told The Hindu.

Parthiv struck a philosophical note when he quipped, "I guess all cricketers have this phase of going through a bad patch. And I also think that you have to get through the ladder of Ranji, Duleep and Deodhar Trophy matches. In my case I straight away played for the country and now it is my turn to go through the domestic tournaments."

Working on skills

The 20-year-old is busy working on his wicket-keeping skills. "I am trying to keep it as simple as I can and I am working hard on the basics like getting up with the ball, concentrating on the ball and waiting for it. There is competition between me, Kaarthick and Dhoni but all I can do is work hard and try and convince the selectors about my ability," Parthiv said.

While Parthiv is busy with his comeback dreams, Mohammed Kaif is itching for the season to begin. "In the off-season, I spent time with the family, went to England, played some Tsunami relief Twenty20 matches and now I need to get back to my rhythm. The fitness-base we gain from the camp will be good and will help us in the season ahead," Kaif told the media here on Saturday morning.

Kaif unperturbed

The 24-year-old Uttar Pradesh player has been branded a one-day specialist while he has figured in only seven Tests. Kaif however refuses to be worried. "All I can do is to stay focussed and get runs. I can't worry about selection and the final playing XI and whenever I get a chance I should grab that opportunity in Tests," Kaif said.

Kaif also struck a modest note when he said, "I try my best as a fielder to save runs and take my catches but in this game no one is perfect and I am still learning to keep improving my skills."

On Twenty20 cricket, Kaif stressed that it has blended well with the British culture. "In England you work till 5 in the evening and then watch a Twenty20 match for about three hours. Even I have played about five games earlier for Derbyshire. It is good for England, it is intense cricket and you get lots of fours and sixers but I am not sure how it will work in India," he said besides adding that he had brief sessions with coach Greg Chappell and kinesiologist Dr. Charles Krebs. Kaif termed those sessions as being `useful.'

Meanwhile the conditioning camp focussed on team-building exercises. The probables were split into teams and were given varied targets ranging from relaying a huge empty plastic drum to pulling a wooden plank. Trainer Gregory King and physio John Gloster sprinted alongside while the players enjoyed their tasks that lent variety to their fitness routine.

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