Fielding and fitness worries for India (31 August 1999)

31 August 1999

Fielding and fitness worries for India

Trevor Chesterfield

Colombo (Sri Lanka) - Sachin Tendulkar has not exactly pointed an accusing finger at teammates and told them they cost India a place in the Aiwa Cup series final. He is too big a man to lay the blame on others for India's record of shame in this three nation tournament.

Yet if you listen carefully to his comments from a press conference designed for Indian consumption you get the drift that he is not a happy man and the world should know it.

He did not waste too much time over his back injury. It was, he suggested, up to the doctors to tell him whether he was fit to play or not, and he was confident of being fit for the tournament in Singapore and beyond. As doubts about the fitness of Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajith Agarkar for the series against the West Indies in Toronto filter through from Mumbai, Tendulkar said the team's focus for the Coca-Cola Cup in Singapore is an improvement in fitness and fielding levels.

"I think we are all too aware of where we have lost our games in this tournament," he said in the sumptuous teamroom in the Galle Face Road beachfront hotel. "We need to lift our levels. We all know how a fit side fields well. (Which means) it is important for us to work much harder at this important part of our game."

Although he is not the sort of man to pull punches, and did not use the Arjuna Ranatunga tactic of blaming everyone else in the side for a poor World Cup, Tendulkar cares very much about the welfare and fitness of the side. He has undergone enormous pressure since his arrival in Sri Lanka and today, instead of preparing for the final, the fielding fitness programme was held at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Vinod Kambli, his close friend, who took Tendulkar's place in the game against Australia on Saturday, was neither up to it as a batsman nor was he 'Mr Agility' in the field. Perhaps Kambli might get a chance in Singapore to rescue his career. Kambli needs to trim off at least 15 kilos, as has Ranatunga since his axing from the Sri Lanka captaincy and limited-overs squad.

The main fault lies not with Kambli, though, as it is doubtful whether he is going to feature too deeply in India's plans unless there is a 120 percent improvement. The problem area lies with other members of the side and if Tendulkar is to be taken seriously much of the training sessions until their opening game in Singapore on Saturday will focus on the fielding and fitness skills.

It works on the theory that better fielding skills improves the bowling. A prime example of what not to do and how to lose games was illustrated on Sunday when Venkatesh Prasad acted in the sort of undisciplined manner which enabled Sanath Jayasuriya to make full use of the width bowling he dished up and drive and cut three consecutive fours. Petulant behaviour has no part on the field and Prasad, fumbling and stumbling fielded as poorly as anyone.

India also need to find a new wicketkeeper if MSK Prasad is the next best they have to Mongia. Having Rahul Dravid behind the stumps as a makeshift 'Aunt Sally' also does not inspire confidence in the bowlers. "If we get our fitness and fielding skills right I know that we can play a lot better. Both are so important in the one-day game. We see it so often and I know we have the players.

"We have all talked about it and it is what we plan to do in Singapore," he added.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield