Injury scare for Dravid

Rahul Dravid, the Indian captain, has sustained a nose injury after getting hit by an RP Singh bouncer during a net session in Kolkata. He is unlikely to take further part in the preparatory camp for the tour of Bangladesh beginning on May 10.

With the focus being on running between the wickets during the practice session, two batsmen at a time were batting on the main Eden Gardens wickets. Sourav Ganguly had batted with Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa with Mahendra Dhoni, and then Dravid came out with Wasim Jaffer. The early excitement of the start of the session had worn off and almost everybody had settled for a quiet outing. Even the zealous TV cameras missed what followed.

RP Singh, one of five bowlers taking part in the exercise, bowled one short of a length; Dravid leaned forward and, surprised by the bounce, was hit flush on the helmet. The crashing sound was heard in the BC Roy Club House Stand and Dravid went down immediately. He lay on the ground for about five minutes and the whole team gathered around as John Gloster, the physio, attended to him. As Dravid walked back to the dressing-room, his shirt had blood stains and he was in pain.

The ball had hit the visor which in turn hit Dravid on the nose, causing the bleeding. An ENT specialist was summoned and an X-ray immediately done at the Eden Gardens revealed that there was no fracture or head injury, but a nose trauma. Surendra Bhave, the administrative manager, said that Dravid had been advised rest for 24 hours. "The X-ray showed bruises. John Gloster will follow up with the procedures advised," said Bhave. "We are expecting him to be back in 48 hours."

A 24-hour rest and a slow recovery would mean that Dravid would not take further part in the Kolkata camp but was sure to travel to Bangladesh on May 7.