- News>
- Cricket
No one can take his place for granted: Ganguly
Bangalore, Sept 05: Ahead of the Test series against New Zealand, skipper Sourav Ganguly today sounded a warning bell to his teammates, saying no one should take his place in the side for granted as performance rather than reputation would be the criteria for selection.
Bangalore, Sept 05: Ahead of the Test series against New Zealand, skipper Sourav Ganguly today sounded a warning bell to his teammates, saying no one should take his place in the side for granted as performance rather than reputation would be the criteria for selection.
Ganguly's comments, which comes a day before the training camp for the 36 probables winds up here, are sure to renew hopes of many of the fringe players hoping to break into the Test squad by their performance in the lead-up games.
"Slots are up for grabs. No one can take his place for granted," the Indian skipper said.
"Whoever does well is open for selection," Ganguly said to underline the emphasis on actual performance rather than records on paper.
However, he added that the team management had not yet taken a decision on who would don the wicketkeeping gloves during the series. But he did single out young Parthiv Patel and hinted that he might be given the slot.
"Parthiv has done well. He has got very good hands behind the wicket. We want him to contribute a little bit more with the bat. He knows that and is working hard. I am sure he will," Ganguly said. The Indian captain, however, evaded a question on whether Rahul Dravid, who has hinted that he wanted to be relieved of the responsibility, will continue to double up as wicketkeeper in one-dayers.
The 30-year-old ganguly said the long break from international cricket will not affect the team's performance or motivation in the new season ahead and the team was determined to make amends for its dismal performance when it toured New Zealand late last year. The skipper was not too bothered about reports that the Kiwis were resorting to unconventional methods of training to counter the Indian conditions and break their jinx of not winning a series in India for a long time.
Ganguly also said injured speedster Shane Bond's absence from the New Zealand squad would not affect India's chances though it was a blow for the Kiwis.
Ganguly said the team was just concentrating on the task at hand and not thinking about meeting their World Cup nemesis Australia whom they run into in the tri-series and then take them on in a full-fledged series down under later this year.
The Indian skipper said he had not set any personal goals as such for the season ahead though he was keen to perform well.
Ganguly refused to be drawn into the debate on sledging, triggered off by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar in his Colin Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's recently.
"I just don't want to comment on that (sledging). It is a part and parcel of modern day cricket. We have got to go ahead with it," he said. Bureau Report
"Slots are up for grabs. No one can take his place for granted," the Indian skipper said.
"Whoever does well is open for selection," Ganguly said to underline the emphasis on actual performance rather than records on paper.
However, he added that the team management had not yet taken a decision on who would don the wicketkeeping gloves during the series. But he did single out young Parthiv Patel and hinted that he might be given the slot.
"Parthiv has done well. He has got very good hands behind the wicket. We want him to contribute a little bit more with the bat. He knows that and is working hard. I am sure he will," Ganguly said. The Indian captain, however, evaded a question on whether Rahul Dravid, who has hinted that he wanted to be relieved of the responsibility, will continue to double up as wicketkeeper in one-dayers.
The 30-year-old ganguly said the long break from international cricket will not affect the team's performance or motivation in the new season ahead and the team was determined to make amends for its dismal performance when it toured New Zealand late last year. The skipper was not too bothered about reports that the Kiwis were resorting to unconventional methods of training to counter the Indian conditions and break their jinx of not winning a series in India for a long time.
Ganguly also said injured speedster Shane Bond's absence from the New Zealand squad would not affect India's chances though it was a blow for the Kiwis.
Ganguly said the team was just concentrating on the task at hand and not thinking about meeting their World Cup nemesis Australia whom they run into in the tri-series and then take them on in a full-fledged series down under later this year.
The Indian skipper said he had not set any personal goals as such for the season ahead though he was keen to perform well.
Ganguly refused to be drawn into the debate on sledging, triggered off by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar in his Colin Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's recently.
"I just don't want to comment on that (sledging). It is a part and parcel of modern day cricket. We have got to go ahead with it," he said. Bureau Report