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FROM THE NETS My date with Sehwag

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Biggest Balle!

Biggest Balle!

Personal anecdotes from three cities and a memorable wicket made this trip a special one for this cricket report

BY SANJIV DUBEY

As India arrived in Australia to play some much-hyped cricket, I took the role as roving reporter for Indian Link to be a part of Team India during their net sessions in Canberra, Melbourne and in Sydney.

Now I have played cricket for many years in Sydney, coaching for some time now, and I have had the opportunity in the past to attend net sessions as a bowler to the practicing Indian team. Once again in this series, I was able to bowl to the players, and it was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed, although whether they did too remains to me. I met him in Canberra at the warm-up match, and after a simple wave and hello from me, the Little Master actually was able to recollect the time he spent with me in the nets during the last Indian tour. And at that time, he scored a century the day after the nets. Sachin introduced me to bowling coach Eric Simmons and once again got me on board as a net bowler in Canberra. I didn’t feel any younger than what I was at Team India’s last visit, but nevertheless, I have never been short of enthusiasm, confidence and experience, which has helped me knock wickets off many Indian players, to name few - Kumble, Harbhajan and others during net sessions.

Stumping Sehwag

setting the cricketing world on fire with his record breaking innings of 219 runs, a man who has scored over 8000 runs. After a few trundles on the nets I started to bowl closer to Sehwag’s off stump. Then came the effort, bowling to knock Sehwag’s off stump, the ball moving into him. The crowd erupted, and for that precious moment I had set the Manuka nets on fire! However, the contingent of Indian media watching the sessions couldn’t believe the unbelievable as they whispered, ‘This is gonna hurt Sehwag!’ I was modest enough to say ‘sorry’ after the dismissal, but it is a day I will remember forever and proudly share with my future kin too. It was definitely a moment of glory for me on this tour. A piece of the moment is now

Indian team’s media manager experienced some awkward moments.

The makings of a Master

After the nets in Canberra, as always, Sachin was very modest in signing autographs for the supporters and also helping youngsters within the squad. I kept my ears open to share these tidbits with the fleet of youngsters under my wing, all five of them who go to the Westfield Sports School specially for gifted and talented cricketers, where Aussie captain Michael Clarke once studied. I was also quick to clear my doubts with Sachin directly, as such opportunity to learn from the man himself was unlikely to come by in the future.

In Melbourne, during practice sessions Sachin was accompanied by Arjun, his young son. The Little Master at times corrected Arjun’s technique, even showing him how to bowl out-swingers. Arjun, it must be said, is opposite to his dad when it comes to bowling and batting as he is a lefthander, and seems to be learning a lot under the mantle of Zaheer Khan. I kept close vigil on the young fellow and was quite impressed with his effort in the nets.

Arjun’s first delivery to Rohit Sharma which missed the off stump by few millimeters became a headline in the Australian media. Young Arjun definitely enjoys the attention he gets, and comes across as a good kid with no attitude.

I couldn’t resist asking Sachin: what does Arjun enjoy most, bowling or batting? Sachin was diplomatic with his answer, as always. “He is an all-rounder and loves both,” was his response, but I could see Arjun more keen as a bowler at the nets in Melbourne.

The youngsters in the Indian team need to learn more from Sachin’s work ethic, which might help them in future. While the other team members finished quickly, the Little Master didn’t take his pads off for over 5 hours and carried on with his batting sessions for hours together. Impressive indeed!

Practice makes perfect?

In Melbourne, I took note of the proceedings from outside the nets, as I had a sustained an injury during the nets at Canberra – called the ‘Zaheer Khan’ injury (hamstring) – which I didn’t want to flare further. So I dressed as a reporter and went across to keep an eye on the preparations for the Boxing Day test.

Ishant Sharma didn’t bowl during the net sessions, and the Indian media aggressively played the story of his ankle injury, and rumours of him flying back to India started to flash out. But finally he bowled during the second practice game, which cleared the clouds about his fitness.

The Indian team looked sharp in the nets firing on all cylinders; the batsmen and the bowlers went through the spell with ease and the batsmen worked on their technique of playing out-swinging balls. Coach Fletcher suggested that every batsman should face more than 200 balls moving away. This time around they were assisted by the support staff and net bowlers.

Team India started well during the Boxing Day Test, but I felt they all ran out of gas, ideas and motivation. I also felt that they exhausted all their bullets during the net sessions, and were left with only a few darts. They threw the match away which always looked winnable. Next time around I would suggest a boot camp for Team India before they start the series, or simply join me at the City to Surf run, a mere 14-km stretch!

Settling into Sydney

Team India travelled to Sydney, and I followed, hoping that they would bring some form, pride and application in this Test. I was back in the nets this time, bowling again, but not to Sehwag this time. As I gave it my best, one of the coaches commented, “Your bowling action looks like Waqar Younis!”, after I bowled 3 consecutive yorkers at Rahul Dravid. I felt ecstatic once again.

While watching the Indian batsman, I didn’t feel confident about them as they were getting knocked around by a few of the young net bowlers. Team India did looked short of confidence going into the second Test.

But what was most disappointing for me was that the net sessions in Sydney were closed for the public who had gathered to watch the Indian players, leaving the fans waiting outside. However, the Australian team’s net sessions were open to their fans, and they enjoyed the support. On being asked by a journalist on what prompted this decision, Captain Dhoni showed no knowledge as to why it happened. I got no answer either, and the reasons remain vague. Couldn’t the Sydney Cricket Ground manage a mere few hundred fans, as opposed to the thousands who watched the Test? I asked Narendra Hirwani, but he didn’t know either. And has anyone appraised Team India of this situation?

A change in attitude

It seems to me that Team India doesn’t care for their supporters here in Sydney as they have enough of a fan following back home in India. But they need to show respect to the emotions and feelings of their fans here too, not just as professional sportsmen, but also because it is these fans who fill the stands and offer support and encouragement to the team. The cricket craze exists in Indians all over the world, and signing a few autographs for your compatriots abroad won’t hurt, in fact, it builds a feeling of camaraderie. Such an attitude is saddening, and if they persist in snubbing their supporters, they won’t have many left. Or perhaps they have other things to worry about like their performance and the money in their accounts. For me, this is an uncharacteristically uncharitable thought, but I feel sorry for the fans who waited to see and interact with their heroes, and were bitterly disappointed.

Team Australia, captain Clarke and other players have always acknowledged the support of Aussie fans during all times, but I have never heard from any corner of Team India that they need their people’s support here too. During most press conferences hardly any reference has been made in support and about the feelings of the Indian fans.

There has also been a smear campaign by some media to boycott Team India during this series, which I personally don’t support. My message to the Team is simply this: your own people have made you heroes, they still look on you with reverence and support you through thick and thin, so don’t ignore them, instead acknowledge and respect them!

At the time of going to press Team India has lost the second Test in a row, and experts are blaming Indian batsmen; however, while chatting with Dean Jones, ex-test player and now expert in the sport, he pointed out that the bowlers had all the momentum in both Tests, but they couldn’t capitalise on the grounds made.

I am not travelling to Perth, but I still wish Sachin luck in getting his 100th hundred which I may not witness in person. And I hope bowling Sehwag at the start of the series didn’t end up in bad karma for Team India!

So Team India, don’t let yourselves and us down. Wake up and have a go, mate!, as the Aussies do. Good luck for the rest of the series!

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