Lancashire look to Ganguly for appointment at Lord's

A century on debut at Lord's. What more could one ask for? Sourav Ganguly's affaire de coeur with the game's headquarters is well known and a return to the hallowed turf brings back the most pleasant of memories. ``I have always liked playing at Lord's,'' he said while speaking to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about Lancashire's chances of entering the final of the NatWest Trophy prior to the semifinal clash against Gloucestershire.

Lancashire have done precious little so far during the season and are eagerly awaiting an appointment for the title clash at the Mecca of cricket and the Indian captain, the county's foreign recruitment for the season, vows to take them through. More so because he was not around the last time around when Lancashire lost to Gloucestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup final at the same venue in May. He had missed both the semifinal and the final since he had to lead India for the Asia Cup in Dhaka.

So far Ganguly has had a disappointing run and conceded that he was frustrated by his lack of performance. He has played in only nine innings in the championship matches in the past four months. ``In the 16 matches, you should get 32 innings but already it is the month of August and I haven't got many opportunities,'' a disappointed Ganguly said. In the 13 innings, he has aggregated 432 runs at an average of 33.23 but has failed to score a century, his highest being 99.

On the other hand, the one day games seem to bring the best in him, especially when he has opened his innings. He clobbered a mediocre Lincolnshire attack to score his first century in the English domestic season. Opening the batting with the former England captain Michael Atherton, he raced to his hundred with the help of 18 hits to the fence while guiding Lancashire to a facile ten wicket win. In the next round against Essex, the duo combined to give a solid 163-run opening stand with Ganguly falling at 97. The previous week, he gave a taste of what was in store for Gloucestershire in the semifinal when the two counties met in the Norwick Union match at Old Trafford. In the company of John Crawley, Ganguly thrashed the Gloucester attack to get his second century of the season.

Ganguly might be disappointed not to have scored heavily in the longer version of the game but Lancashire look up to him now for a berth in the NatWest Trophy Final. He has sure been a hit these days in the onedayers and even he makes no effort to deny it. ``I have always preferred to open in limited overs matches.'' The fact remains that all his 14 one day international centuries have been made as an opener.