Leipus stands down as India's physio

Andrew Leipus: ending a five-year association with the India side © Getty Images Enlarge

Andrew Leipus, India's physiotherapist, has asked to be relieved of his day-to-day duties with the national team after the home series against South Africa, which ends on Dec 2. Leipus, who has been with the Indian team since late 1999, wants to spend more time with his family, and also wants to improve his professional qualifications by studying.

The Australian-born Leipus, 34, was recently offered a contract until 2007, but it is understood that he has not yet signed that, and has made a counter-proposal wherein he would still be involved with the team, but would play second fiddle to someone else who did the job on a more hands-on basis.

Leipus has suggested that the load on the physio is increasing all the time, and feels that two professionals are needed to do the job efficiently. In his letter to the Indian Board he has suggested that John Gloster, the former Bangladesh physio, be considered for the post he would be vacating. Gloster, who has also worked with Surrey in the past, spent about two years as the physio of the Bangladesh team, but left them on October 9 when his contract ran out.

However, Leipus does not want to make a clean break from his duties with India, and hopes to be involved occasionally in the future. A source within the Indian team confirmed that Leipus has always meant to take time off from his job to pursue further studies to enhance his professional qualifications. However, it had been expected that he would take a break at the end of the current season, and not immediately after the home series against South Africa.

Leipus is likely to meet with board officials soon to discuss the matter. He succeeded Andrew Kokinos as India's physiotherapist, after being recommended for the post by Dr Mark Ferguson, the South African surgeon who treated Javagal Srinath.

Anand Vasu is assistant editor of Wisden Cricinfo.