Date:20/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122056591800.htm

Sport

Job not yet over, says Gambhir

Special Correspondent

Good players do not become bad overnight, says Moores about Dravid

— Photo: S. Subramanium

BELATED AWARDS PRESENTATION: M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh walk away with the winner’s and man of the series trophies respectively for the India-England ODI series which was presented at Mohali on Friday.

Mohali: Gautam Gambhir is approaching 1,000 Test runs for the year.

This indicates the left-hander has managed to turn his career around after a disappointing start in Mumbai four years ago. Then, the Australians prised him out quickly.

Gambhir, subsequently, survived a career-threatening phase. Now, The left-hander is high on confidence and full of runs.

He reached his hundred off paceman James Anderson here on Friday but was rather subdued in his celebrations.

Gambhir says his job is not over yet, though he said that his fourth Test century — first against England — gave him a lot of satisfaction.

He has two Test centuries — one of them a double hundred — against the Aussies this home season. On Friday, he constructed his second three-figure innings in successive Tests at Mohali.

“The ball was doing a bit in the morning. It was important for me and Dravid to build a partnership after we had lost an early wicket. We had to see the new ball off without losing another wicket. We did just that,” said Gambhir.

He said his innings was not all about stroke-play. “We had to play according to the need of the situation.”

Gambhir said the Indians anticipated the Englishmen to come hard at them after the setback in Chennai. “We were ready for it and we have done a good job considering the pitch and the kind of pacemen they have. We have to consolidate our position tomorrow.”

Comparing his unbeaten century here with his hundred against Australia, Gambhir said, “I got a hundred in the second innings and we beat Australia in that Test. This hundred is very special because the first day pitch had something in it for the bowlers.”

Defensive mind-set

Gambhir conceded that a defensive mind-set could land the Indians in trouble. “We are seeking to be positive tomorrow. We want to win the Test. In fact, we want to be aggressive on all five days.”

The left-handed opener said the team was focussed on regaining the No. 2 spot in the ICC Test rankings. A series win against England will enable India take the slot immediately below Australia.

Talking about Rahul Dravid, England coach Peter Moores said, “Good players do not become bad overnight.” He added Dravid showed his mettle after spending some time at the wicket.

About replacing Steve Harmison with Stuart Broad, Moores said, “He (Broad) can bowl effectively with the new ball. He adds to the batting lower down the order.”

Earlier in the day, Yuvraj Singh was adjudged the man of the series for the curtailed ODI series against England. Skipper M.S. Dhoni received the winner’s trophy.