The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Coaches stress on fielding

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Saturday, May 05, 2007
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Coaches stress on fielding

Special Correspondent

Players have outdoor yoga session

YOGA FOR FITNESS: Yuvraj Singh has a workout with yoga instructor Sukhdev Kumar on the third day of the conditioning camp. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

KOLKATA: The third day of the five-day conditioning camp at the Eden Gardens was a complete reversal of proceedings of the first two days with the coaches led by cricket manager, Ravi Shastri, stressing more on fielding and running between wickets.

Yoga, which was confined to indoors till Thursday, came out in the open with yogi Sukhdev Kumar helping bowlers relax after a strenuous practice. When all the batsmen were hitting the ball either at the nets or in the centre pitch, Kumar took Sachin Tendulkar aside to a corner and put him through a few asanas.

The day also began a bit late as the players trooped into the stadium around 8:30 a.m. After a quick warm-up, the batsmen straight away hit the nets with the coaches in close attendance. The rest went through fielding drills, running between the wickets and more importantly throw-ins, both from the deep as well as from close.

The second session, devoted totally to fielding, began at 3:45 p.m. and went on till 5:45 p.m. Trainer Gregory King worked on a group of players while Robin Singh had another group doing pickup and throw at one stump.

At the other end of the ground, bowling coach B.K. Venkatesh Prasad and Shastri tested the players' fielding and running between the wickets. To test the reflexes, Prasad used a racquet and a tennis ball to make the players dive on either side. While some of the seniors disappointed with their catching ability, the youngsters had a good day.

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