The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kerala in a desperate situation

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Kerala in a desperate situation

Principal Correspondent

M.P. in a positive frame of mind

PALAKKAD: After losing the plot in the Ranji Trophy Plate League opener last week, Kerala seems to have messed up its priorities going into the second encounter against Madhya Pradesh at the Fort Maidan here from Friday.

The Kerala Cricket Association has removed Raiphy Vincent Gomez and Robert Fernandes, its two most promising young batsmen, from the Ranji team and has instead sent them to Mohali to join the Kerala under-22 side which has qualified for its maiden C.K. Nayudu all-India tournament quarterfinal.

"I don't understand... the Ranji team should have come first. I'm sure the country's best under-22 boys will be playing in the Ranji now," said the Kerala coach Parthasarathi Sharma. "We're losing two batsmen. On this wicket, we don't need too many bowlers," he added.

Leg-spinner S. Shyamjith, who is making his debut in the team, and middle-order batsman H. Ramakrishnan have replaced the two. After conceding two points to Vidharbha and gaining none from the opening game, Friday's four-dayer against Madhya Pradesh is virtually a life-or-death situation for Kerala.

"We are in a desperate position. We have to get at least the first innings lead," said Sreekumar Nair, the home captain.

Kerala lost its way early in last week's opener, with its bowlers giving away too many runs in the first 15 overs with a lot of loose deliveries. This is one area the team needs to work on.

Madhya Pradesh, meanwhile, is in an upbeat mood, despite losing a 14-run thriller against former champion Railways in its opener in New Delhi.

"Our inexperienced youngsters did brilliantly," said the M.P. coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu, one of the stars of India's 1983 World Cup triumph. For the record, M.P. gained the first innings lead against Kerala last year at Indore.

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