Ganguly likely to be retained as skipper for Zimbabwe series

Staff Reporter

February 7, 2002

Sourav Ganguly is set to continue as the skipper of the Indian team for the home series against Zimbabwe, the Press Trust of India (PTI) has reported.

The PTI quoted a highly-placed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source as saying, "The team under Ganguly beat England 1-0 in the Test series and squared the six-match One-day series 3-3. He regained his batting form at the end of the series and he will be the right choice to lead against Zimbabwe." This though isn't the official announcement - that will be made only on February 14.

Ganguly did do well in the recent one-day series but his form continued to be patchy in the Tests. He made just 68 runs in the three Tests at a very modest average of 22.66. This marks a continuation of very long and woeful run with the bat that has seen the Indian captain score just 874 runs in his last 21 Tests.

Opposing bowlers have continued to exploit his weakness against the short ball with alarming regularity and consequently, it is a familiar sight these days to see a nervous Ganguly scrath around for runs.

One of Ganguly's earliest fans, the legendary Geoffery Boycott, recently joined the chorus of observers who feel that the Indian captain has a definite technical problem.

"I have observed him closely of late and I am convinced that a few minor faults have crept into his technique. His wrist is not straight when he is meeting the ball and his right shoulder is falling forward", Boycott wrote in a foreword to a book on the Indian captain - Naram Sourav, Garam Sourav. "There is only one cure for his ailment. Practice, practice and more practice. He should spend hours before the mirror and in the nets ironing out these flaws. Watching videotapes of his earlier innings should also help."

What has saved Ganguly from facing the axe, despite his obvious failings as a Test batsman in recent times, has been his heroics in the one-day arena. It looks like his strong performances in the six one-dayers against England might bail him out yet again.

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