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Accent on skills and fitness

Pravin Amre

Bangalore: The accent was on skills and fitness as the preparatory camp for the Indian team for the Emerging Players’ tournament in Australia, had a sedate start at the National Cricket Academy here on Saturday.

Coach Pravin Amre supervised the camp while the support staff consisting of physio Vaibhav Daga and trainer Ramji Srinivasan kept a close watch.

However, captain S. Badrinath, M. Vijay, R. Ashwin and Pankaj Singh were conspicuous by their absence in the opening session. Team officials said that Badrinath, Vijay and Ashwin were playing a local league match in Chennai, while Pankaj Singh was on his way to Bangalore. Badrinath, Vijay and Ashwin will join the camp on Sunday.

Vice-captain Virat Kohli and the rest limbered up and practised at the KSCA (B) ground adjacent to the NCA.

The camp started with a morning round of nets, which was shifted from its earlier afternoon slot. “There was fear of rain in the afternoon hence we thought about having the nets in the morning,” said Amre.

The coach was happy with his bunch of players and said: “This is a good team and I am confident about them. We are focussing on the skill-sets as well as fitness in this camp. The Emerging Players’ tournament in Australia is a good tournament with some strong teams.

“This year in the period from July 20 to August 1, we are playing seven limited-over matches and two Twenty20 games. Our fitness levels will be tested in these nine games. The tournament is also a good opportunity for our players to prove their talent.”

Later in the afternoon, the players had a round of fitness tests inside the NCA, besides a session at the gym. The camp will conclude on July 15. — Principal Correspondent

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