Chennai doctors offer to motivate cricketers

A group of Chennai-based doctors is all set to offer help to Indian cricketers, it is learnt. Chennai's physio-care/physiotherapist and fitness clinic is likely to motivate the Indian cricketers, according to Dr. Hamsraj.

Speaking to this correspondent over telephone from his clinic, Hamsraj stated, "we have decided to write a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to utilise our services".

The Indian team had sought the services of a psychologist Dr. B. Ganesh Kumar for the series against South Africa. Ganesh Kumar treated the Indian players during the Bangalore Test. He wasalso with the team till the Nagpur one-dayer. However, since India's tour to Sharjah was planned much earlier, his services could not be utilised for the trip.

Thirty-two year-old Ganesh Kumar is attached with the said clinic and was appointed on a recommendation by BCCI president AC Muthiah.

Most of the other Test playing nations have adopted the practice of appointing a psychologist for the team. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) recently appointed a performance consultant Dr. Rudi Webster. The BCCI is likely to appoint Ganesh Kumar on a long-term basis.

``Our players have natural talent, but they need to be motivated'' remarked Ganesh Kumar. He owns a master's degree in psychology and has five to six years of experience in the field of sports psychology. The Indian players and coach Kapil Dev seem to be happy working with him. Players like Ajit Agarkar, MSK Prasad, T. Kumaran and chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand are among those who have sought his help.

Ganesh Kumar has been treating patients with the help of various methods of relaxation, comments, orders, counselling and training. The Chennai-based clinic has a full fledged team of four physiotherapists (Dr. Hamsraj is one of them), sports psychologists, dietician, two athletic trainers and an ortho to design special shoes for the players. The Board may not be utilising the services of all of them, but the psychologist is the team's top priority, especially after the team's inconsistent performance in recent years.