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[MockTurtle]

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070113/asp/sports/story_7256836.asp

Must have somebody to guide Rahul: Vengsarkar

LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI
 
Calcutta: It’s not clear whether there was a prompt from somebody in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), but the idea that Sachin Tendulkar be given the vice-captaincy came from selection committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar.

He acknowledged as much in a chat with The Telegraph.

“I offered the post to Sachin and he agreed after giving the proposal some thought… In fact, he telephoned to convey his acceptance,” Vengsarkar revealed.

Sachin, it may be recalled, quit as captain in March 2000. His first innings ended with his removal in December 1997. The second had begun after the 1999 World Cup.

Speaking on Friday evening, Vengsarkar added: “I made the offer as I felt we must have somebody to guide Rahul (Dravid)… As announced, for now, Sachin’s appointment is for the first two ODIs against the West Indies.”

He declined to say anything else.

However, there’s talk that Dravid’s somewhat baffling captaincy in the second innings of the Cape Town Test (which ended in a big defeat) probably convinced the selectors that an experienced ‘guide’ was needed.

More important, that the ‘guide’ should hold a position.

Sachin, clearly, wouldn’t have agreed had the appointment been for two matches. It’s pretty obvious, then, that he will remain Dravid’s deputy till the end of our World Cup campaign.

After that? Well…

Dravid’s own appointment is till the quadrennial blockbuster. He has been at the helm from October 2005.

It’s rare for a vice-captain to be named for a series at home, but the vacancy cropped up owing to Virender Sehwag’s removal (in South Africa) and the omission of V.V.S. Laxman, who succeeded him.

Apparently, a section within the BCCI would have favoured Sourav Ganguly’s appointment, but it’s unlikely that everybody in authority would have taken it gracefully.

With India’s first match in the World Cup just over two months away (March 17, versus Bangladesh), this isn’t the time for even a hint of tension in the dressing room.

Sourav was captain from March 2000 till September 2005.
 

[MockTurtle]

On Greg’s cue, Sourav back
- Vice-captain Sachin to ‘guide’ Dravid, Sehwag dropped 

LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI
 
Jan. 12: Five weeks after welcoming Sourav Ganguly back with a handshake, in Potchefstroom (ahead of the Test series in South Africa), Greg Chappell proposed that the former Team India captain be recalled as an opener in the ODIs.

Senior national selectors Dilip Vengsarkar, Venkatapathi Raju, Bhupinder Singh, Sanjay Jagdale and Ranjib Biswal were thinking on the same lines as the coach and, so, Sourav has returned after 16 months.

His Test “exile” ended last month.

The unhappy Zimbabwe chapter in their relationship won’t be forgotten, but Chappell has been doing much to establish he actually didn’t have anything “personal” against Sourav.

As reported in the lead-up to today’s selection meeting in Rajkot, Sourav’s comeback will be versus the West Indies in Nagpur (January 21).

For now, the selectors have picked 15 only for the first two ODIs. The second is in Cuttack, on January 24. The ones in Chennai and Vadodara are later.

Incidentally, Sourav’s ODI debut had also been against the West Indies — in Brisbane, 15 years ago. He didn’t get another match for the next four-and-a-half years, though. That won’t be repeated.

Speaking at the Eden on a day he completed another Ranji century (122 off 118 balls at Rajasthan’s expense), Sourav said: “I expected this call… I knew the opportunity would come my way one day….”

One-day cricket is seen as a young cricketer’s game, yet somebody who turns 35 in July has made a return. It’s one comeback which is going to be recounted many times over.

Not just in and around Behala.

According to sources, Chappell took the line that a “left-right combination” would serve India well. The right-hander of his (and the nation’s) choice is Sachin Tendulkar.

As a pair, Sachin and Sourav have as many as 16 century partnerships.

If Sourav’s has been a remarkable return, no less significant is Sachin’s appointment as vice-captain for India’s first two ODIs of the year.

The former captain’s brief is to “guide” Rahul Dravid.

One understands he will be retained as Dravid’s deputy till the end of the World Cup. What happens thereafter is going to be interesting.

Besides selecting 15 for Nagpur and Cuttack, Vengsarkar and Co. chose the 30 World Cup probables.

Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan, two big omissions from the 15, are there. While Sehwag should be recalled sooner rather than later, it’s tough going for Pathan.

What can work in his favour is that Baroda have made the Ranji semi-finals. Therefore, there’s at least one more opportunity to make an impact with the ball.

If Pathan doesn’t, then comeback man Joginder Sharma may board the flight to the West Indies. When the season began, it was assumed a seat had been reserved for Pathan.

While the squad for the first two ODIs has six making a comeback — Sourav, Gautam Gambhir, Ramesh Powar, Joginder, Rudra Pratap Singh and Robin Uthappa — there are three absolute newcomers among the World Cup probables.

Delhi medium-pacer Ishant Sharma, Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and Baroda’s left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar are the only ones who didn’t figure in the probables’ list for the last Champions Trophy.

Harbhajan Singh was to have been dropped for a “few matches”, but survived as Anil Kumble was rested.
 

[Cover Point]

no comment on chappel suggesting that SG be picked? Where is the spin? The attack? the conspircy Theories? Looks like people are down for the weekend.

[prfsr]

no comment on chappel suggesting that SG be picked? Where is the spin? The attack? the conspircy Theories? Looks like people are down for the weekend.

FWIW, this story of GC suggesting SG's name completely contradicts ABP and other Bengali dailies. That could be one reason.
-P

[Cover Point]

no comment on chappel suggesting that SG be picked? Where is the spin? The attack? the conspircy Theories? Looks like people are down for the weekend.

FWIW, this story of GC suggesting SG's name completely contradicts ABP and other Bengali dailies. That could be one reason.
-P

I thought Telegraph was out of Calcutta? Is that not part of bengal anymore? Assuming you mean Bengali language dailies?

[caught and bowled]

" Reliable sources" seem to be having a field day. Some more spin from the spiel meisters. If indeed this has even an iota of truth, are you surprised by the reports of divisions/groups within the team.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Sachin \'ready\' for the hot seat after World Cup
 
NADIMSIRAJ         
 
Posted online: Sunday, January 14, 2007 at 0000 hours IST
 
 
kolkata, january 13:
When Sachin Tendulkar was yesterday named the vice-captain for the forthcoming one-day series against the West Indies, the Master Blaster\'s decision to take up the deputy\'s job raised a few eyebrows. However, there\'s much more to it than the logic that the BCCI is giving — the team needs him as a guide for Rahul Dravid, who is currently going through trying times as captain and batsman.
A reliable source in the Board told The Sunday Express today that efforts are on to reinstate Tendulkar as the Team India boss as early as after the World Cup this year. Hence the decision to "officially" bring the Mumbai maestro back into the Indian team think-tank.

"If India\'s performance in the World Cup doesn\'t turn out to be satisfactory for the Board, then Sachin will be offered the Indian captaincy. That can happen as early as the England tour (mid-July to September, 2007). It\'s a matter of time from this point on. If India doesn\'t make it to the semi-finals in the World Cup (March-April), then Sachin will be asked to replace Rahul for the England tour," revealed the source close to the BCCI bigwigs and the selection panel.

The source even pointed out that over the "last month or so", Tendulkar has been dropping clear hints that he won\'t mind taking up the skipper\'s job. "The fact that he has agreed (to become captain if offered), after discussions with a few BCCI officials and one of the selectors, has made the Dilip Vengsarkar-led selection panel\'s job easier," the source disclosed.

If the imminent change of guard works out, in the event of a pedestrian showing in the World Cup, it will be Tendulkar\'s third stint as the Indian captain. His first stint was from 1996-97 to 1997-98, while the next essay was shorter, spanning the 1999-2000 season before Sourav Ganguly took over the reins.

 
 
 
 

[justforkix]

Irrespective of India's showing in the World Cup, RD should be replaced as captain by perhaps Yuvi.

[keep-it-cool]

Irrespective of India's showing in the World Cup, RD should be replaced as captain by perhaps Yuvi.

No. Sreesanth for captain.

[fineleg]

Irrespective of India's showing in the World Cup, RD should be replaced as captain by perhaps Yuvi.

No. Sreesanth for captain.

Prashant-ji,
Sreesanth can captain our cheerleader team, not the cricket team

[keep-it-cool]

Irrespective of India's showing in the World Cup, RD should be replaced as captain by perhaps Yuvi.

No. Sreesanth for captain.

Prashant-ji,
Sreesanth can captain our cheerleader team, not the cricket team

if he captains our cricket team, he'll bring a lot of cheer ...

[jaat69]

Irrespective of India's showing in the World Cup, RD should be replaced as captain by perhaps Yuvi.

No. Sreesanth for captain.

Prashant-ji,
Sreesanth can captain our cheerleader team, not the cricket team

if he captains our cricket team, he'll bring a lot of cheer ...

hmm..this proves that you are a secret admirer of SG!