The Hindu : Sport : Streamline FTP, says Vengsarkar

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Streamline FTP, says Vengsarkar

G. Viswanath

Expresses happiness at performances of Ganguly, Harbhajan and Ishant

— Photo: S. Subramanium

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE: Sourav Ganguly, the Man of the Match at Kanpur, has been lauded by Dilip Vengsarkar for showing tremendous skill and temperament.

Mumbai: Dilip Vengsarkar is not inclined to exaggerate the significance of India’s remarkable comeback in Kanpur against South Africa.

Expressing happiness at some of the individual performances (by Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma) and recognising the team’s attitude in the third Test, Vengsarkar felt the International Cricket Council’s Future Tour Programmes (FTP) should be streamlined in such a format that all Test-playing nations get an equitable distribution of matches and against all teams.

Sympathetic

The Chairman of the National selection committee was somewhat sympathetic to the Indian team that was skittled out at Motera and magnanimous in acknowledging the team’s drive to surpass itself since the tour of Bangladesh last year.

“There’s always the probability of an international team experiencing a low in an odd match as it happened to India at Motera.

“It has played against powerful teams in the last ten months. We played against England which was followed by the home series against Australia and Pakistan.

“Thereafter it was a tough and challenging three months tour of Australia. Within ten days of that tour, we played the three-Test series against another tough South African team.

“A team has to be physically and mentally fit. The players have to be fresh. The Indian team was affected by injuries. I think the international series have to be spaced out well for India maintain the No. 2 position and look for the No. 1 slot.

“India is scheduled to play Bangladesh, in the Asia Cup, the Champions Trophy and against Australia and England at home this year. It’s important to pay attention on the players and keep them prepared for Test series.”

South African coach Mickey Arthur’s statement that India was only two or three per cent ahead, after the second day’s play, and generally discussing match situations in the Indian media has not gone down well with him.

“The visiting team’s captain, a few players and the coach have the advantage of offering their perspective in the Indian media. This does not happen when India plays abroad. How many former Indian cricketers are asked to write by their media?

“The Indian team does not gripe with the conditions they get at Lord’s or Durban or anywhere in the world. An international team gets different conditions and they learn to adapt, which is what India did in South Africa, England and Australia.”

Taking responsibilty

On Harbhajan Singh (Man of the Series with 19 wickets), Vengsarkar said: “He was the senior and leading spinner in the absence of Anil Kumble at Kanpur. He took the responsibility. He was obviously under pressure and had to deliver. And he did just that.

“Ishant Sharma is a top class bowler and made his contribution to the team. Sourav Ganguly played a fine innings, showing tremendous skill and temperament. In a low scoring match performance counts and Sourav did that.”

Pat for Sehwag

Vengsarkar concluded the chat with The Hindu by praising Virender Sehwag. “He was terrific with the bat at Chennai and was fantastic with the ball at Kanpur.

“I would like to see him play many more such innings in the future. He is a kind of batsman who can throw the opposition bowling into complete disarray and change the complexion of the game in quick time, score big runs and provide an opportunity for the bowlers to attack.”

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