The Hindu : Sport : Stint with Glamorgan has helped immensely, says Sourav Ganguly

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Friday, Jul 15, 2005

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Stint with Glamorgan has helped immensely, says Sourav Ganguly

Sports Reporter

Harbhajan aims to excel despite controversies

Bangalore: As the Indian team probables trooped out in batches after an evening session inside the National Cricket Academy (NCA) indoor nets, Sourav Ganguly walked up to the waiting media, answered a few queries and rushed towards the exit. His replies were brief and it was understandable as he had a flight to catch. Ganguly left for Kolkata and on Friday he will fly to London and then join his Glamorgan teammates for a county match.

Ganguly, who is under a cloud due to the six-match ban for slow over-rates, stressed that he is not aware of the ICC's latest stance on his ban.

"I have got no idea and I have not yet heard from anybody," he said. Queried on his eventual return from England, Ganguly said, "I will be back. I have a few more matches with Glamorgan but my return will depend on whether I go to Sri Lanka (for the tri series) or not."

Looking ahead, Ganguly said: "We will have to do well this season as India will play a lot of cricket and I hope we as a team will perform well." He also reflected positively on his continuing stint with Glamorgan.

"I played a lot of cricket and as you know in county cricket you play almost five days a week. I have scored a few runs for Glamorgan. I am already into my season and have played two months of cricket. For me the season has already started," he said.

No comparisons

Ganguly also refused to compare earlier coach John Wright and current coach Greg Chappell. "I don't think you can compare anybody. John had a good time with Indian cricket for five years while Greg has just started, so we will also have to give him time to settle down. I think he (Chappell) will get help from everybody, there is Rahul, there is Sachin, Anil, there is Laxman and the whole lot of young boys like Sehwag and I am sure they are going to make his work easier and I hope he enjoys it with the boys," Ganguly said. And on the Edward De Bono methods, he said, "I think it is new and slowly we will have to find our ways to implement it in our games."

Meanwhile Harbhajan Singh, who was also in the eye of a storm for his recent war of words with Gloucestershire batsman Mark Hardings in Surrey's recent county match, emphasised that his desire to excel will continue despite controversies dodging his career.

"With my name, controversy is always linked. But it has not come in the way of my performance. Spinners are not rational. I didn't like defeat right from my child hood and I always try to do my best at the same time I don't think it is good to abuse a player. My aim is to bowl well and get wickets and not to indulge in creating any sort of controversy," Harbhajan said.

Wet start

Earlier, the players after a closed-door morning session at the team hotel, arrived for their afternoon nets at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Greg Chappell, sports scientist Ian Frazer, trainer Gregory King, physio John Gloster and analyst Ramakrishnan kept a close watch as the players tested their skills through four nets while some others fine-tuned their fielding with throws at practice stumps.

However the sessions under the sun did not last long and after an hour, heavy afternoon showers forced the players to scurry back to the NCA indoor nets.

Sachin Tendulkar, recuperating from his tennis-elbow surgery, was also present. He spent time watching the others go through their routine at the nets and also had a word with Chappell.

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