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| March 10, 2002 | Sunday | Zilhaj 25, 1422 |
Ganguly doubtful for second one-dayer
MOHALI (India), March 9: A knee injury to skipper Saurav Ganguly has added to India’s injury woes ahead of their second One-day International against a buoyant Zimbabwe Sunday.
Ganguly hurt ligaments in his right knee during Zimbabwe’s sensational comeback win in the first Faridabad game Thursday, but said he still expected to lead his side in the day-night game.
“I have blood clots between the ligaments on my right knee, but I should be okay,” Ganguly told reporters Saturday.
Ganguly said there was still some swelling in the injured area but he felt much better after Friday’s rest day.
The latest injury comes after star batsman Sachin Tendulkar pulled out of the five-match series because of a troublesome knee and a shoulder injury ruled out the in-form Virender Sehwag.
Ganguly felt his injury was not serious enough to cause long-term damage if he continued playing.
India, struggling because of fitness problems to many of their key players, face a rejuvenated Zimbabwe on a hard and grassy pitch expected to encourage strokeplay.
Having run India close in their four-wicket defeat in the second New Delhi Test during their 2-0 series loss, Zimbabwe lifted themselves from the jaws of defeat Thursday to win with two balls to spare.
Douglas Marillier smashed 56 not out from just 24 balls for the fifth fastest one-day 50 to power his side to an improbable victory, after coming to bat in the 45th over with Zimbabwe 210 for eight chasing 275 to win.
Marillier’s innovative strokeplay — he repeatedly stepped away from the line to loft the ball over the wicket-keeper for four — has sparked an interest in the series which had been missing because of Tendulkar’s absence.
Ganguly admitted his side would be helpless if the batsman were to play a similar innings again.
“We should give credit to the knock he played. The only place I didn’t have a fielder was behind the wicket-keeper,” he said.
He said Marillier’s adventurous strokeplay was discussed in the team meeting, but added: “If he does it everyday you can’t do much.”
But coach John Wright said: “Good sides get up again and go and win.”
Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh was pleased with Marillier’s knock which has put his side 1-0 up.
“He has got the ability, and this is what the game needed though we were lucky to get there,” he said.
Marillier had said after his match-winning knock that he practised his own brand of shot-making only in the absence of his disapproving coach.
TEAMS (FROM):
INDIA: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Dinesh Mongia, Vangipurappu Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Kaif, Sanjay Bangar, Ajay Ratra, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Shiv Sundar Das, Tinu Yohannan, Sarandeep Singh.
ZIMBABWE: Stuart Carlisle (Captain), Alistair Campbell, Craig Wishart, Travis Friend, Andy Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Grant Flower, Heath Streak, Tatenda Taibu, Douglas Marillier, Gary Brent, Douglas Hondo, Mpumulelu Mbangwa, Charles Coventry.
UMPIRES: S.K. Tarapore and Alok Bhattacharjee.—Reuters
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