India To Beat Australia? Fat Chance Of That!

The Sunday Age

Sunday December 9, 2007

Will Swanton

GRAVE concerns over the fitness of the Indian squad to tour Australia have surfaced following a spate of injuries to key players and a confidential dossier outlining doubts over several players' physical condition.

According to a report recently sent to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Sachin Tendulkar and the rest of the squad will arrive this month with serious doubts over their ability to go the distance of a 10-week tour.

Fielding coach Robin Singh gave the BCCI a formal assessment of each Indian player after their five-match one-day series against Pakistan, which they won 3-2. The common thread was his concern over their physical condition, with eight players singled out, including master batsman Tendulkar, who has been ruled out of the third Test against Pakistan with a knee injury.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be contested over four Tests in five frantic weeks from Boxing Day, followed by a month-long tri-series of one-dayers. India will have at least six players over the age of 30, and whether their bodies can withstand the pounding of an Australia tour, coming straight after three consecutive Tests against Pakistan, will go a long way towards determining their competitiveness.

Singh's appraisal paints a few Indian players in a particularly poor light. He says Murali Kartik, for instance, struggles for fitness, agility and throwing ability.

He was right about Virender Sehwag needing to work on his fitness - he's since been ruled out of the Australian tour. Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are described as lacking agility and fitness.

Zaheer Khan struggles to throw on the run. Praveen Kumar is lacking technique, balance and anticipation. Rudra Pratap Singh needs to improve his catching, while Harbhajan Singh is slow.

Aside from Tendulkar, fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel had already been omitted from the Pakistan Test, while batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni was another casualty on the eve of India's last hit-out before taking on the Test world champion.

India flies to Australia almost immediately after the third Test against Pakistan for one warm-up match, a three-dayer against Victoria from December 20. Injuries have forced selectors to delay naming the touring party until after the Bangalore Test. They named an initial squad of 24 players - including 13 bowlers, three wicketkeepers and eight batsmen.

Another to miss the tour is feisty speedster Shanthakumaran Sreesanth because of a shoulder problem. However, the man named by Wisden as India's cricketer of the century, Kapil Dev, warned the onus is on Australia to perform.

"It will be a very tough series," Dev said. "What Australia don't have is the two bowlers in Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath who have played over the last 15 years and done so well by taking so many wickets. I don't know if the bowlers Australia have now can quite do the same job.

"Our batting side is quite strong and it won't be so easy for them. It will be a tough series and by no means a walkover."

India has named former South African batsman Gary Kirsten as coach, but his appointment doesn't start until May 1, meaning the side will travel to Australia for the tour without a full-time mentor.

NOT WORKING OUT

Fielding coach Robin Singh's report into the Indian players' fitness

"SACHIN TENDULKAR: Needs to improve on his agility and work on his fitness.

SOURAV GANGULY: Has to improve on his fitness, agility and anticipation.

GAUTAM GAMBHIR: Is a much improved fielder; should continue to work on his throwing technique and anticipation.

YUVRAJ SINGH: fielding has been outstanding; needs to continue working on his fitness.

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI: Has to work on his movements down the leg side.

ZAHEER KHAN: Important to work on his fitness and throwing on the run.

PRAVEEN KUMAR: Is a very good outfielder, must work on his throwing technique, balance and anticipation.

ROBIN UTHAPPA: Was below his normal fielding standards; should work on his fitness, agility and throwing from the deep.

RUDRA PRATAP SINGH: Needs to be more consistent; gets very complacent at times and loses concentration during the game; should work on his catching in the deep.

MURALI KARTIK: Must concentrate on his fitness, agility and throwing.

HARBHAJAN SINGH: Has an excellent throw; is very slow to take off. Important to work on his agility and speed.

ROHIT SHARMA: Is a brilliant fielder. Should continue to work on his agility and fitness."

© 2007 The Sunday Age

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