'I need a bit of luck' - Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly is hoping luck will favour him as he attempts to get out of his run of poor form. Ganguly managed just 48 runs in the recent Test series against Pakistan, and was bowled for a first-ball zero in the first one-day international, followed by 9 runs in the second match.

"It looks a long way off," Ganguly was quoted as saying by AFP. "I need to get some runs. That is what I am trying to do for the last one month. I am concentrating hard on it and I am practicing. I am hitting the ball well. Unfortunately I am not spending enough time at the wicket. I think I need a bit of luck. A bit of luck here and there where I am able to get some 30-40 runs. Then I can carry on from there."

Ganguly, who has been the most successful Indian captain, has failed to score a Test century since his innings of 144 against Australia in Brisbane in November 2003. His dip in form has extended to one-dayers as well, with his last hundred coming against Kenya in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Ganguly has been severely criticised by many former cricketers, some of whom have called head. However, Ganguly is undeterred. "Criticism is going to happen because I have not scored runs for the last five to six innings," he said. "People are going to criticise, but these things remind you that you have been good enough in the past."

Ganguly is just 55 runs away from becoming only the third batsman after Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam-ul-Haq to secure 10,000 one-day runs. Ganguly has another four one-dayers against Pakistan to reach the milestone. India hold a 2-0 lead in the one-dayers with the third match on April 9 in Jamshedpur.