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| World Home » Sports » | Thu. Nov 20, 2008 |
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Vengsarkar happy that Ganguly wasn't "bounced out" MIL/Agencies/Hindu, Dec 20, 2006. Durban, December 20, 2006 - Selection Committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar was happy to see that Sourav Ganguly was not "bounced out" as was expected ahead of the Wanderers Test last week. "Everyone had presumed that he would be bounced out on these pitches but he did very well," remarked Vengsarkar, reflecting on India's historic Test win, their first on South African soil. "He stood his ground. He took time to get moving but it was an exceptional performance." Ganguly's return to international cricket has been highly impressive and the decision to recall the former skipper to the Test squad has been largely credited to Vengsarkar. "I wouldn't alone take credit for it, it was a decision of all selectors. Laxman, Kumble, Zaheer and Ganguly have a great deal of experience in Tests and one-dayers and I am glad they did exceedingly well." Vengsarkar was also heartened by the performance of young S Sreesanth who took eight wickets for 99 runs and earned the man of the match award in the first Test. "His performance and control was exceptional but he has to control his exuberance. He gets too excited. Otherwise he will be fined by the match referee all the time." Vengsarkar was all praise for the brave decision taken by captain Rahul Dravid to bat first on a wicket which had wet patches and that too when he himself was not 100 per cent fit as far as his finger injury was concerned. "It was a very courageous decision. He was very positive to bat first on a strip which had wet patches to start with." The former India captain has no doubt that the team had begun to acclimitise after a month's stay in South Africa. "When we arrived, we had played only one one-day game before the one-day series started. The boys couldn't acclimitise. But now they have been here for over a month and are getting used to the conditions," Vengsarkar said. The Selection Committee chairman is making his presence count on more than one front on this tour. He would have a fair deal of say in the selection of the playing eleven and has also has been instrumental in arranging a two-day match ahead of the second Test in Durban, starting December 26. Vengsarkar's initiative somehow redresses the lop-sided itinerary of the present tour where for nearly half of December, the team would not be seen on a cricket field. "It's important that everyone gets a game and stays match fit. We want to test out Munaf Patel if he has recovered fully. For the likes of Gautam Gambhir too, it's an important outing." Gambhir, in particular, would be sensing his moment as openers have continued to fail on the present tour. The elegant batsman of yore is confident that India could do well with good start provided by the openers. He is not pulling the noose on either Virender Sehwag or Wasim Jaffer yet but is not prepared to give them a long rope either. That's why the two-day game has assumed such importance for the touring Indians. "Everyone has to chip in with their contributions and nobody is an exception. We sure would look for alternatives in case there are regular failures," remarked Vengsarkar.
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