Date:30/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/30/stories/2005063010321800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Amit Bhandari hopes to make a comeback

Sports Reporter

BANGALORE: : Amit Bhandari has been a constant presence in the fringes of the Indian pace bowling attack. The Delhi seamer who relies on swing more than the hustle and bustle of pace has played in two one dayers but is yet to cement his place in the senior squad.

After a forgettable debut against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in 2000, Bhandari went back to domestic cricket and soon with a consistent show during the India `A' team's tour of England in 2003, came back into National reckoning and has been on the tours of Australia, Pakistan and England.

The 26-year old Bhandari still dreams about a comeback. "I am waiting for that moment when I get that chance to play again for the country," Bhandari told the media here during the course of the fast bowlers conditioning camp here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

"Last season was good and I did well in the Deodhar and Challenger Trophy tournaments. I am able to get the ball to come back in and I also have better control over the seam," Bhandari said.

Bhandari stressed that the stint with the `A' team in England was the turning point in his career. "We went to England with Sandeep Patil as coach and I learnt a lot there about bowling in different conditions and it raised my morale," Bhandari said.

"Yes it was disappointing to be out of contention after the tours of Australia, Pakistan and England," he added.

On the camp and coach Greg Chappell, Bhandari said: "I am enjoying the camp very much. It helps us to understand our fitness levels. We get to know where we stand and where we are going. When we play first class cricket we don't get better quality of physios and trainers and camps like these help us to understand what we should do, helps us to understand the basic requirements for a fast bowler and we can also tell the physio and trainer here about our needs. I have had a brief chat with Chappell and he said that at the International level you got to take care of yourself. I think once the nets start there will be more interaction between us and Chappell."

Meanwhile the camp's third-day proved largely to be an indoor affair with the speedsters pumping iron in the gym. The brief outdoor stint was their volleyball match in the morning.