Sport - Cricket   

Ganguly, Dravid & Wright honoured

By Our Special Correspondent

Mumbai Oct. 7. Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly is regarded as an icon in West Bengal and the vice-captain Rahul Dravid is considered to be the nicest fellow. The coach John Wright is a foreigner from the antipodes, but like school children and fans, worships some of India's famous cricketers.

Each one of them received a big prize on Monday. All the three were honoured at the C.K. Nayudu Hall, the Cricket Club of India (CCI) conferring them the Honorary Life Membership of the Club, a gift the CCI President Raj Singh Dungarpur and the CCI Managing Committee have been giving in recent times for persons for their outstanding contribution to the game of cricket.

Raj Singh was eloquent about Ganguly. "I am said to be very critical about Ganguly. But I must say he has improved since. He is an outstanding batsman and captain. He has proved it. He has earned the membership the hard way. Rahul is a superlative batsman and was responsible for recommending John Wright's name as India's coach. I also played a small part in bringing John. They deserve the membership,'' said Raj Singh.

India's former captain Polly Umrigar while lavishing praises on the Indian team's performance in England and Dravid's batting deeds in particular said: "He was superb and outstanding. I wish I could have been half as good as he was in England. Most willing he was to keep wicket, he worked for the team, which is laudable. He was adequately rewarded.''

Dravid could not believe he was amongst a galaxy of India's cricketers and former Australian captain Bobby Simpson. "I cannot believe it's happening to me. I am right amidst so many cricketers in this hall. I feel proud and blessed. It was always a dream to become a member of the CCI. It's here that I scored my first international hundred playing for the India under-19 team. The membership is like a dream come true for me.''

Simpson, whom Raj Singh described as `guru of coaches', said the membership of the club is `acknowledgement of talent'. Talking of Wright he said: "There were times when I felt he was an Australian. I still remember the days he spent in the Australian dressing room and picking my brains. He is a quiet, kind, strong and man of great integrity. He has a lot of common sense, but above all he has the respect of the Indian team.''

Replying to the felicitation Wright said, "There are special moments in life and Monday is one for him being at the CCI. I don't know if I have been a good coach. Only time will tell. But I must say that the Indian team is wonderfully talented and great ambassadors for their country. The fielding and running between the wickets can improve. It helps being fit. India is a great nation and the people celebrate an Indian victory.''

Later in the afternoon, both the teams, had their first preparation for the first Test for the Exide Cup, with a long net session.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

Asian Games

• Heart-break for Jaspal Rana
• India takes off on Anju's golden leap
• India moves up three places
• Medal tally
• Ruiping rewrites world records
• DD does it again
• Korea humiliates India
• India makes it a no contest
• Paes-Bhupathi pair back in business
• Palwinder bags bronze
  
  Chess
  
• Stage set for exciting finish
• India gets two more entries
  
  Cricket
  
• Hooper enjoys his new role as skipper
• Ganguly, Dravid & Wright honoured
  
  

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu