The Hindu : No slackening on India's part, says Ganguly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 14, 2003

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Sport - World Cup

No slackening on India's part, says Ganguly

By Vijay Lokapally

Sourav Ganguly, who has hit form of late, and deputy Rahul Dravid will not want the team to lose momentum although it has already qualified for the semifinals. — Photos: V.V. Krishnan

CENTURION MARCH 13. It beats you when people talk of this clash as a grudge match. How can India erase the bitter memories of the New Zealand tour by beating the opposition in just one match? India did not lose comprehensively. The contests were all close. So, how can this ICC World Cup cricket match become a battle of attrition for one team when the other looks at it very differently?

For India, this match would have given another opportunity to the team management to try and look at the options available, give a chance to Ajit Agarkar, Parthiv Patel and Sanjay Bangar and rest the likes of Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan. They need to be preserved in the best frame of mind mentally and physically for the last two matches of the tournament if India is to win the Cup.

But the move did not find any takers because skipper Sourav Ganguly was of the opinion that the team could not afford to take things lightly. "We'll play our best combination,'' he declared.

It would be interesting to see how the players motivate themselves to give their best in a situation which does not require them to give their best. It is not even a crunch match because India is set to meet Kenya in the semifinals, whatever the result here on Friday.

To say that the contest means a lot to India would be out of place because motivating the players shall be the biggest challenge for Ganguly. The skipper may not like to take things lightly, and understandably too, but it would be disastrous if taking things too seriously ends up in an injury to a key member.

The Kiwis obviously look at the match with a different perspective. A win could enable them to have another go at the Australians in Port Elizabeth. A defeat would mean catastrophe for the dreams conjured up by Stephen Fleming and his men.

They came so close to achieving their goals at Port Elizabeth but could not finish the job, which had begun so well when Shane bond rattled the Australians in a most stunning piece of fast bowling. Bond was a majestic sight, thundering in and knocking the Aussies one by one, but all his efforts failed to inspire the Kiwis.

It is a situation which the New Zealand skipper Fleming is convinced the team is well prepared to tackle. "From the time we arrived for the World Cup we've been up against the wall the whole time. We're back to familiar territory. But I think we perform well under pressure,'' said the Kiwi.

New Zealand, however, would have preferred avoiding such a challenge where it takes on the most-improved side in a do-or-die situation. "If someone had told me six months ago that I had to meet India to make the semis I would've taken that gladly. The psychological pressure will always be there,'' said Fleming.

Ganguly has grown tired of reminding people that the New Zealand tour was a chapter buried deep and long forgotten. "Why do people show interest in what happened in New Zealand when it is hardly going to affect us here,'' he sounded irritated, and rightly too. The Indians will go into the match with an open mind, exploring every opportunity to make the most of it.

When reminded of Fleming wanting to open old wounds, Ganguly responded, "he can talk whatever he wants to but look at the scenario. We've qualified and they have to beat us to qualify.''

There is nothing like maintaining a winning habit and that could well be the driving force for the team management not to tamper with playing eleven. The temptation to experiment with the batting order may, however, be high. There were indications that Dinesh Mongia may be moved up the order and also Mohammad Kaif may be asked to play the role of an anchor, a responsibility that Rahul Dravid has come to enjoy so well.

The format of the tournament and the events over the last fortnight has led to a situation where India can now plan for the final. Kenya as an opponent, even though the African nation is in the semifinals with a match still in hand, does not evoke hopes of a close contest, even conceding its performance against India at Cape Town in the Super Six stage.

The Kenyans know their limitations and have not made any tall claims about their abilities. The Indians are well aware of their own potential and were pleasantly surprised by Chris Cairns' comment that the attack was as good as any in the world.

"It's nice to know that someone is talking sense,'' said Ganguly.

So, India will work hard to eliminate New Zealand from the competition and do a good turn to Sri Lanka that has half a point less. New Zealand, on its part, will grab every little opening available. It has a commitment to Sir Richard Hadlee, travelling with the team, and bowling to the batsmen in the nets. Their promise to Hadlee that they shall stand up and be counted will be the motivation for New Zealand at the Supersport Park on Friday.

The teams (from):

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Sanjay Bangar and Parthiv Patel.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, Shane Bond, Jacob Oram, Matthew Sinclair, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent, Andrew Adams, Daryl Tuffey and Kyle Miles.

Umpires: Peter Willey and Daryl Harper; Third umpire: Darrell Hair, Fourth umpire: David Shepherd; Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle.

Hours of play: 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; 5.45 p.m. onwards.

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