Date:23/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/23/stories/2008032356131700.htm

Sport

Indian team has an hour-long practice session

Sports Reporter

— Photo: Pichumani

GETTING READY: India coach Gary Kirsten and one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni seen during a practice session at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

Chennai: The Indian team had an hour-long fielding practice session at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

All 14 members of the squad were present, as were coach Gary Kirsten, physio Paul Close, bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh.

Left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan was also present, and put through the drills despite not being part of the squad. The team members arrived on Saturday morning, ahead of the first Test against South Africa.

The delayed practice session was truncated to an hour after persistent rain affected the outfield. The weather doesn’t hold much promise till Monday, but is expected to improve later. Play is scheduled to commence at 9.30 a.m. on match days.

The Indians made the most of the session, focussing entirely on ground fielding and catching. Close, who replaced John Gloster as India’s physio, supervised proceedings with a set of drills testing reflexes and agility. India’s slip cordon — comprising Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman and captain Anil Kumble — had a brief session with Robin Singh thereafter. Kirsten and Prasad took charge of ground fielding and catching.

There were no major signs of injury, though Yuvraj Singh had his knee braced as a precaution. M.S. Dhoni, who cleared his fitness test on Friday, seemed comfortable with the big gloves. India’s one-day captain had sprained the fourth finger of his right hand, according to Gloster’s report. The 26-year-old looks to have suffered the least despite playing more Internationals than his teammates over the last few months.

Harbhajan Singh’s left hamstring injury showed little signs of surfacing; but it will take a full-fledged practice session to test the extent of his recovery.

Should the weather relent, the Indians will practice on Sunday morning. The South Africans will have their first practice session on Sunday afternoon.