We are better prepared now: Ganguly

MUMBAI: He is truly back in vogue. Despite a delayed arrival in Mumbai on Sunday evening, Sourav Ganguly followed it up by attending the BCCI’s awards function and then agreed for six TV interviews in a span of just one hour. Suddenly, it seemed like yesterday once more for the former India captain, India’s man of the moment after emerging Man of the Series in the Tests against Pakistan.

Ganguly had an even more packed schedule before he left for Australia with the Indian team on Monday morning. He signed up with an upcoming news network, squeezed in a 7:30 am promotional shoot and finally managed to find time for an interview with TOI. He claims he is not missing anything. Not even captaincy? “No, no, I have had my time. No more. Anil is doing a terrific job,” he said.

Excerpts…

In 1991-92 you went on your first tour to Australia. What do you remember of your first-ever international tour?

Sixteen years (smiles) yeah…I was young then. I was picked in a team with huge names, Kapil Dev, Vengsarkar, Manjrekar, Tendulkar, Shastri, Prabhakar. So you know it was something different for me. Just a 17-18-year-old among greats, so I was a bit awestruck.

Then in 1999-2000 you went as vice-captain, in 2003-04 as captain and now you are going back as a senior player. You have been to Australia in different roles. How does it feel going back?

I think this is probably the best team which has gone to Australia since I started playing. Last time we did pretty well, but we did not have much of a bowling attack. Zaheer, Harbhajan were not fit. We just had Anil Kumble, who did a fabulous job right throughout the series. This time we are going better prepared. If Sree Santh would have been fit then I think it would have been complete. But I think now we have a very good chance to do well.

Can this Indian team do one better than your side of 2003-04, when the series was drawn 1-1?

I really hope so. Australia are without Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, two of their greatest bowlers. But they will be a tough team, they have Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson. I am sure Brad Hogg (left-arm spinner) is going to play because all good Test teams have good spinners. It is going to be tough but if we can put runs on the board I think we can really push them.

What is different about this team, does it have an X-factor which earlier sides didn’t have?

It is just the quality of players and the confidence of having won overseas earlier. In the last six-seven years we have done wonderfully well. Winning in West Indies, England, Pakistan, levelling in Australia. We have done well everywhere. Getting to the World Cup final in South Africa (2003), winning the Twenty20 World Cup.

These are tough places for a subcontinent team. And India have done better than any subcontinental team in these countries. So, from that point of view, I think it is the knowledge of doing well overseas which will help in Australia.

What’s the reason for India’s overseas successes since 2000-01, especially after you took over as captain? What’s been the big change?

First of all it is the quality of players that’s the most important thing, because you have to perform. Then it is the confidence and desire to win. We wanted to change that statement of India being good only at home. John Wright (New Zealander, former India coach) also played a very important role in that, trying to make the boys believe that we can win overseas.

Was this feeling missing in earlier teams or on your debut tour in 1991-92?

I won’t say it was missing, but we didn’t win much then. I am sure every team that leaves Indian shores wants to win. But somehow it did not happen.

You are playing your 100th Test match in Australia (Melbourne, December 26-30). A big moment for you…

It is definitely a big moment in my career. When you play cricket you don’t think you will reach 100 Test matches, but I am happy to be there.

What’s been the highlight of your career through these 99 Tests?

My first Test. It will always be special. Then becoming captain, winning that Test match at Kolkata against Australia in 2001… these moments will always be special.

But a year back all this did not seem possible. You have proved a lot of people wrong. What drove you then?

Just the need to play for India, nothing else. The feeling was I want to succeed at that level. Just the thought of doing well, when you walk out to bat in a Test match or a One-day game and you get runs… that evening you feel good about yourself. The feeling was I belong here.

India have potential to win in Australia, says Kumble

India have the potential to end Australia’s 14-test winning streak and clinch their first series victory in the country during their upcoming tour, captain Anil Kumble said on Sunday.

“The last time around we came pretty close to winning the series. We have the potential in the team to go out there and do it again,” the leg spinner told a news conference ahead of the team’s departure on Monday. “That will be the aim.”

India drew a four-test series 1-1 on their previous tour of Australia in 2003-04 after going 1-0 up. However, the hosts have not lost a test since August 2005 in England and could better their record of 16 wins during the four-match series which starts in Melbourne on Dec. 26.

“For some of the senior players this will be the last tour of Australia. It will be a great challenge for all of us,” said Kumble.

It will be the final tour of Australia for batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and Vangipurappu Laxman, as well as the skipper. India are next due to visit Australia in 2011.

“If you look at the quality in the side, the people who have been playing, the experience in the side, we have the ability. to adjust,” said Kumble, who led India to a 1-0 home series victory over Pakistan this month after being handed the test captaincy in September when Dravid quit the job to concentrate on his batting.

“If you look at our middle order, we have about 30,000 runs there. That’s a lot of test runs and experience that we have.

“If we can do that consistently (put runs on the board) we have the bowling to pick up 20 wickets,” added the 37-year-old.

India’s bowling attack has two inexperienced pacers in Ishant Sharma and uncapped Pankaj Singh but Kumble was confident of their ability.

“We have the experience in Zaheer (Khan) and RP (Singh). Irfan’s (Pathan) played in Australia before. Ishant is very promising and Pankaj is exciting. He’s tall, hits the deck hard and a good option to have,” said Kumble.

India recalled explosive opener Virender Sehwag on account of his experience even though he has struggled for runs in domestic cricket.

India open with a three-day tour match against Victoria from Thursday. The four tests will be followed by a one-day tri-series also involving Sri Lanka.

ICL announces eventful season for 2008

Subhash Chandra’s Indian Cricket League (ICL) which kick started its first season in November, will host 5 tournaments in 2008. The announcement was made today by Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra and Kapil Dev, chairman of the executive board, ICL.

The second season of ICL will roll-out in February and will include 50-over matches as well.

” It is indeed heartening to see the response Indian Cricket League (ICL) has been able to generate in India and across the globe. After a successful launch in keeping with the promise made, ICL is proud to announce its cricket calendar for the coming season.” ICL conducted its first 20-20 championship at the Tau Devilal cricket stadium at Panchkula, Chandigarh from November 30 to December 16, Subhash Chandra, chairman, Essel Group said.

ICL’s 2008 event calender will begin in February with a 50-over tournament featuring domestic cricketers, to be followed by a Twenty20 triangular series. In March-April, ICL will organise the ICL Grand Championship in which 8 teams will participate in a Twenty20 tournament. By April- May, the league will open academies across cities. September-October will witness the ICL Invitation Cup (a 20 over a side tournament in which 8 teams will participate). The season will conclude in November-December with the second edition of ICL Twenty20 Indian Championship.

Success of ICL tournament justified participation: Hall

Johannesburg : Despite his side, Chandigarh Lions, losing to the Chennai Superstars in the final of the Indian Cricket League Twenty20 tournament, South African cricketer Andrew Hall has said the success of the inaugural event justified the participation of international players, most of whom have been branded rebels.Writing in his weekly column “Report from a Rebel” in the Afrikaans weekly Rapport here, Hall said the tournament was “a gigantic success” and the players were very happy with the way it had turned out.

“This success has vindicated my decision – and that of all the other South African players – to come and play here (in Chandigarh ). Sometimes one has to take a chance, especially with something which is initially a gamble.”

Hall’s side lost to the Chennai Superstars Sunday in the finals of the inaugural Indian Cricket League (ICL) Twenty20 championship.

Hall and several other South African players have been considered rebels by Cricket South Africa , the national body for the sport here. Some are in litigation with the body after it decided to exclude them from even local squads.

“It’s incredible how the players from the different countries came together to make the ICL such a showpiece. Besides all the excitement on the field, the tournament also gave us as players an outcome – a guaranteed future and (job) security.

“Everyone knew exactly when they would be playing, how you would be used and that you are appreciated as a player, something every (player) wants in his career,” Hall added.

Hall said it did not matter that his side lost the game.

“I had the opportunity to teach a few young Indian players something which hopefully will make a difference in their careers. That is in the long run why every one of the so-called international players was here.”

Chennai Superstars are the champions

Chennai Superstars won the inaugural Indian Cricket League (ICL) 20:20 Indian Championships with a 12-run victory over Chandigarh Lions in the final at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula on Sunday.

Batting first after losing the toss, the Chennai Superstars made 155/8 in their stipulated 20 overs, largely due to useful contributions from their two Aussie imports — opener Ian Harvey making 36 off 31 balls and captain Stuart Law making 34 off 28 balls.

Daryl Tuffey was the most successful bowler for the Chandigarh Lions with figures of 2/32.

In reply, the Chandigarh Lions could muster only 143/8.  Tejinder Pal Singh top scored with 35 off 33 balls while South African all-rounder Andrew Hall was left unbeaten at 30 off 27 balls.

Pakistan seamer Shabbir Ahmed impressed with the ball for the Superstars with figures of 4/23 while Harvey completed an all round effort taking 2/26.