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| September 20, 2005 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 15, 1426 |
Ganguly lies low as India seek victory in Harare
HARARE, Sept 19: India captain Saurav Ganguly was lying low ahead of his side’s attempt to win their first match at their fifth attempt in Harare when they face Zimbabwe in the second Test starting on Tuesday.
Ganguly declined to speak after practice at Harare Sports Club on Monday, with India coach Greg Chappell suggesting that the captain did not “want to be grilled by them (Indian press).”
His absence represented a break from tradition when captains talk pre-match about their team, state of the wicket, recent form plus expectations of play.
Despite leading India to an innings and 90 run win over hapless Zimbabwe with a day to spare in the first Test at Bulawayo, Ganguly is facing the prospect of his working relationship with Chappell plummeting to crisis point.
Ganguly, who hit a much-needed century in that game, caused a sensation by revealing that he had been asked to stand down as skipper with many in the game in India believing that his deputy Rahul Dravid should take over.
Meanwhile, the India team were working off steam on the field and in the nets, even under a hot sun, following their break at Victoria Falls.
They are clearly determined to beat Zimbabwe in the final match of their tour and by as big a margin as possible.
Zimbabwe coach Kevin Curran, in his usually optimistic mood, believes that India will find it much harder than they did in Bulawayo.
Curran said the Bulawayo wicket was more suited to the Indians, being fairly similar to the ones they generally find at home.
“We also played too many loose shots, which we have now tried to rectify. And hopefully this time we can build some batting partnerships,” he said.
If Zimbabwe lose by an innings it will be their sixth successive Test defeat on home soil by this margin in the last 15 months.
Chappell said his efforts to motivate Ganguly had been misrepresented as a call for the batsman to stand down as captain.
“It is disappointing that what was a private discussion between the captain and myself has become a cause of public speculation. Even more disappointing is that much of what has been written does not represent the discussion fairly,” Chappell said.
“It was a frank discussion about Indian cricket, present and future, and much of what I said was aimed at motivating Saurav for the Bulawayo Test. In that regard our exchange was beneficial.”
TEAMS:
ZIMBABWE (from): Tatenda Taibu (captain), Brendan Taylor, Terry Duffin, Hamilton Masakadza, Dion Ebrahim, Charles Coventry, Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Blessing Mahwire, Anthony Ireland, Prosper Utseya, Keith Dabengwa, Gavin Ewing, Sean Williams, Waddington Mwayednga.
INDIA: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Vangipurappu Laxman, Dinesh Karthik, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh. 12th man Ajit Agarkar.—AFP
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