In a rather stunning turn of events, the chairman of selectors Vengsarkar decided to recall to the Indian team the 'experienced' Sunil Gavaskar & Mohinder Amarnath. Also, Gavaskar will be replacing Dravid as the captain for the 3-test series to be played between India & South Africa in South Africa.This rather sudden change of plans unfolded when Saurav Ganguly had a rather freak accident & rolled down the steps of the Air India flight that he was boarding to Cape Town. He sustained irrevocable damage to his medulla oblongata and had to be unfortunately omitted from the scheme of things for the SA test matches.
Speaking to press persons, Vengsarkar had this to say: "Gavaskar & Amarnath are one of the best batsman's India has ever produced. Their experience playing in similar conditions in West Indies back in 1980's would prove to be very beneficial to the team. Their commitment to the team's cause was never in question and they readily accepted the offer to play again for India". Answering queries about their fitness & age factor, he said " The other day I was in Gavaskar's place & I have seen him running around the house with his grand son playing catch-catch. That proves beyond all doubts that he is fit enough for cricket at the international level"
On Dravid's rather unceremonious exit from Captaincy, Vengsarkar observed that it would be an excellent opportunity for Dravid to learn under the tutelage of a great cricketer like Gavaskar. He also pointed out that Dravid is a very positive cricketer & that he will take all this in his own stride.
Gavaskar & Amarnath will board the flights to Cape Town once they are through with their 'Eye Checkup'. The board has now made it mandatory for cricketer's above the age of 50 to undergo an eye checkup. The physio of the Indian team John Gloster has this to add on the test:"It is now an internationally recommended procedure to undergo this test before any overseas tour. With the light intensity levels in each country being different, it is a procedure that would soon be made mandatory by all the cricket boards. Gavaskar & Amarnath are surely not undergoing this procedure because of their age"
Let us join in wishing Gavaskar, Amarnath & India a very successful test series.
4 comments:
Gavaskar and Kapil Dev would have been better since we need an incredible all rounder :-). Anyways, Nicely written and hope these two save India :-)).
Here is my thought on all this. Atleast for me, being an avid Ganguly fan (let me be honest about that), bringing in Ganguly and Laxman was a good move. But promoting Laxman to be the vice-captain, that was pushing it a little. A batsman, who doesn't even feature in the playing 11 with regularity being promoted to being the vice-captain is ridiculous. And bringing in Ganguly, though is a good move might only make things worse. We have a coach who is bent upon putting Ganguly out of the cricketing arena itself and then we have a team that was once split into two factions - pro-Chappell and pro-Ganguly. How will Dravid justify Ganguly's exclusion for the upcoming test matches when none of his juniors are delivering, or how will he cope up with the coach when he puts Ganguly in the playing eleven will be interesting to watch. Though on paper, with this change in team complexsion, we should be having the best middle-order in the world. Sehwag, Jaffer, Dravid, Sachin, Laxman, Ganguly, Dhoni - in that order - all you need is any two of them to stick around. Atleast if this works out without too much intereference from Chappell, there will be less pressure on Sachin and Dravid to do all the scoring.
Nice one Mate !!
Dude.. Interesting 'news'.. But let us see some more interesting 'facts'...
Laxman - 32y 32d
Sachin - 33y 223d
Saurav - 34y 148d
Rahul - 33y 326d
Now, if U r trying to ridicule at getting Saurav and Laxman coz they are old, please note that Laxman is the youngest of the 4 prominent stars of India.. N Saurav is not even a year older than Sachin and Rahul..
If you are making a mockery of the form of these players, please bear in mind that none of the players in the current team are in form.. N Ganguly has hit a century and a 40 in the last two local matches and has taken a five wicket haul... N Laxman was never meant to be out of Indian Test squad... So, letz keep our fingers crossed and hope that the experience added in the team guides the young talent who have lost their way somewhr...
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