Seamers to undergo fresh fitness test

By G. Viswanath

MUMBAI, SEPT. 20. Literally, almost all of India's fast bowling riches (disabled for some time) from the veteran Javagal Srinath to Ashish Nehra will report for a physical fitness test before the five selectors Chandu Borde, Madan Lal, Ashok Malhotra, T.A. Sekhar and Sanjay Jagdale, physiotherapist Andrew Leipus and sports medicine expert Dr. Anant Joshi, at the Wankhede stadium during the weekend.

The other seamers who will appear for the fitness test are Venkatesh Prasad, Harvinder Singh (replacement for Zaheer Khan) and Debasis Mohanty, Ajit Agarkar and Rakesh Patel who have been asked to rush to Mumbai because Nehra was declared ``not fit' a couple of days ago.

A 15-member Indian team is scheduled to board a plane to Johannesburg on Monday (September 24) morning, but it will be only on Sunday morning that the actual 15 will be known after they clear a physical fitness drill and a couple of them, bowling fitness, too.

Among the other players who will be closely investigated are captain Sourav Ganguly who is recovering from a lower abdomen- related problem, Sachin Tendulkar (great toe of his right foot) and Anil Kumble (Shoulder of his bowling hand). Venkatsai Laxman (right knee cartilage), Zaheer Khan (in-step of his left foot) and Hemang Badani (stress fracture of his back) have pulled out of the tour.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Hon. Secretary, Mr. Jaywant Lele said from Baroda on Thursday that `Nehra will be reporting for the bowling and other tests' in spite of being declared ``not fit'' by Dr. Joshi in Chennai. The BCCI was caught on a sticky wicket soon after Mr. Lele announced that he (Nehra) has been ruled out of the first part (tri-series) of the tour to South Africa.

It can be said that Nehra has got his way, so far, at least. Evidently he did not take Dr. Joshi's recommendation and the BCCI's decision lying down and keep quiet. He telephoned India's captain, Ganguly and told him his version of the story and also that he is fit and ready to bowl flat out during the tests in Mumbai. While he was pleading his case with Ganguly, the Chairman of selectors Chandu Borde, conferred with his four other colleagues, and decided to call three seamers Mohanty, Agarkar and Rakesh Patel for bowling and fitness tests.

Nehra was in Chennai (along with the bowling squad of the Indian team picked for the tri-series in South Africa) to go through specific drills and prepare for the tour.

Coach John Wright had suggested to the BCCI that those picked for the tour should make the most of Dennis Lillee's presence in Chennai. Dr. Joshi (who was also present in Chennai) saw a first opportunity to put Nehra through a set of agility and flexibility tests. The left-arm speedster got poor marks from Dr. Joshi.

But Nehra has vowed to show himself up in shipshape condition and able to bowl flat out, to himself and to India's captain, Ganguly and of course the selectors, Leipus and Dr. Joshi. According to Mr. Lele, both Ganguly and Leipus have been briefed about what transpired in Chennai by Dr. Joshi. The BCCI has agreed to treat Nehra differently (not like Ajit Agarkar's case two years ago in Ahmedabad) because all the players have been called for the fitness test on Saturday.

Two years ago the coach and senior players of the Indian team defied the BCCI before the third Test against New Zealand at Motera. They invited Mumbai seamer Agarkar to be part of the team's stint at `nets' and dragged the BCCI President Mr. A.C. Muthiah into the unsavoury episode and said `his (Agarkar's) expenses will be borne by the team members'. Agarkar was not in the 14-member team for the Test.

The BCCI was so miffed by the turn of events then that it did not pay for Agarkar's stay in Ahmedabad. But Nehra's expenses will be borne by the BCCI. Which means, until he (Nehra) is declared unfit on Saturday, he is very much a part of the 15- member team for the tri-series.

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