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[kban1]

http://www.asianage.com/

 
Team India high on fun
- By Rahul Banerji



Faisalabad, Jan. 19: The high energy levels Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag displayed, despite the many interruptions, in spending all five days of the opening Test against Pakistan at Lahore on the field points to the fitness levels of this Indian team.

The Indian captain and his deputy fielded for most of the first two days and then put together their near-world record opening stand partnership over whatever playing time was available thanks to poor light and rain over the next three. Yet every time they walked out, there appeared to be no hint of strain on their faces. In all, the pair spent the best part of 220 overs on the field between January 13 and 17.

Compare this to the endurance levels of Indian teams of the past and a picture of a leaner and meaner team begins to emerge. Since he took over ahead of the unhappy tour of Sri Lanka in July last year, coach Greg Chappell has used every opportunity to push the Indians towards higher levels of commitment on the field and while training. Towards this, Chappell has assisting him biomechanist Ian Frazer, physio John Gloster and trainer Greg King.

And the key word, says Frazer, is "fun". He explains: "Every exercise can become self-defeating unless it is fun. The guys enjoy it and want to do more because they are now learning to challenge themselves. The idea is to work up to each new level in stages so that the players are not pushed too much too soon, and once they get there, we go for the next set."

So how have the players taken to the regimen? "Well, the results are there. They are all learning to make the best of what they have. That is what the greats all did well — use the basic tools they had and adapt them to every new situation. That way it does not matter whether you are playing at home or elsewhere, with familiar or unfamiliar equipment. A lot of it is in the mind, and these guys are adjusting very well."

A former first class cricketer for Victoria, Frazer has been part of Chappell’s India team from the very beginning. He has thus been able to oversee and monitor on an individual basis the progress each player has made, but will not go into details. On Sourav Ganguly’s spectacular catch to dismiss Rana Naved at Lahore, Frazer says with a wicked grin: "He almost made a meal of getting into the right position, didn’t he? But he recovered and in the end got it. That’s what is important, that’s what we have been working on. And it’s beginning to show."

Not very long ago, Chappell had made his thoughts on fitness and challenges for players very public. "During training we create some problems for them to solve, make the players think."

Adds Frazer, "A cricketer needs to make decisions, and very fast. So we have these drills that make such situations familiar, pushing them into making the right choices. Decision-making also helps in learning. During training, players are challenged to make a lot of decisions so that they would make a lot of decisions on the field."

Yuvraj Singh’s amazing on-the-move run-out of Salman Butt on the first day at Lahore was illustrative of the success of this approach. Immediately after the third Test at Karachi, India and Pakistan will go into the high-voltage one-day series that will take the teams around this country. That, indeed, is where the real test of fitness — in mind and body — will come.
 

[MockTurtle]

 On Sourav Ganguly’s spectacular catch to dismiss Rana Naved at Lahore, Frazer says with a wicked grin: "He almost made a meal of getting into the right position, didn’t he? But he recovered and in the end got it. That’s what is important, that’s what we have been working on. And it’s beginning to show."

There he goes again.......

[kban1]

yes, i noticed the line too. the twist that it was due to all the techniques being practiced.

Also, the lack of graciousness in giving unqualified credit where due is a little baffling, but maybe not unexpected.

[MockTurtle]

i have a dream...

let me not voice it and get beat up tho ;-)

[justforkix]

Yup - that statement shows him in very poor light !!!

[MockTurtle]

add to that Grumpy's line "test cricketers are expected to take such catches". ...what a combo!! frazer(let's call him Frumpy) badly needs a modestomechanics expert and Grumpy a smilomechanics expert.

[feverpitch]

add to that Grumpy's line "test cricketers are expected to take such catches". ...what a combo!! frazer(let's call him Frumpy) badly needs a modestomechanics expert and Grumpy a smilomechanics expert.

and some eyebrows... as he is now, an eyebrowless Grumpy looks quite frighteningly like some of the characters Amrish Puri used to play in the 80's. It's as if he never bats an eyelid.

[kk]

WICKED  GRIN is something the writer assumes by looking at Frazers expression, assumptions doesn't have to be correct all the time.

Further these is always some issue created by the media out of all minor things

Dont succumb to them

[nithya]

AN ALL SOURAV TEAM HERE ...........WHAT A PITY

[gouravk]

great catch great catch great catch

give sourav the credit
give sourav the credit
give sourav the credit

[abhinav]

LOL..you guys are downright funny..he's got a wicked grin and he's eyebrowless..lets make fun of everything about him just 'coz he 'in your opinion' does not like Ganguly!

[Cover Point]

yes, i noticed the line too. the twist that it was due to all the techniques being practiced.

Also, the lack of graciousness in giving unqualified credit where due is a little baffling, but maybe not unexpected.

You Gangulians have a one point agenda dont you? Anyone who says something you dont like is being ungracious or malicious.

This statement is coming from a highly qualified physical training professional who is an expert in cricket. But you wont take his word that he misjudged the catch.

This is known as Gangulitus!

[OldPal]

i have a dream...

let me not voice it and get beat up tho ;-)

I share your dream 2  but have to keep Quiet .

[kban1]

Sillypoint

In response to your quote:
************************************************************************
You Gangulians have a one point agenda dont you? Anyone who says something you dont like is being ungracious or malicious.

This statement is coming from a highly qualified physical training professional who is an expert in cricket. But you wont take his word that he misjudged the catch.

This is known as Gangulitus!
************************************************************************

First of all, I have a name on this board, if you need to address me, do so without lumping me together with your fictional category which you so unimaginatively call "Gangulians".

You do not know me, my preferences or my likes and dislikes to say what you just did. I understand the propensity to boldly wade into realms of ignorance, but may be once in a while you could exhibit a little more discretion.

Does it ever occur to you that the catch, which you so tamely dismiss as nothing more than ordinary, actually appears to many of us (who have played on the field) as an extremely difficult catch and that I may be reacting to the belittling of that effort rather than just supporting someone who I do like  ?

I understand you have played cricket too (as you have informed us when introducing your new nickname on this DG) but maybe your level of skill and fitness is such that you deem that catch to be ordinary, which I do not. What am I supposed to do -- kow tow to your superior cricket playing skills (lost in the eons of time past, lest we would have been seeing you on screen, not these two bit players who don Indian colors) and admit that SG's effort was ordinary ?

To each his or her own opinion my friend, and my opinion is that it was an outstanding catch. That may well be based on my supposedly inferior level of skill at playing the game (compared to you), but then for mere mortals like me, solace comes in the form of one of the best outfielders of modern times (Dean Jones) saying that "this catch was one of the best outfield catches you are likely to see".

of course to you, Dean Jones would also be suffering from "gangulitis" or whatever inane term you usually deign to bestow on observers of our ilk -- and which would be what exactly ? people who choose not to pay deference to your court of thought by labelling Ganguly as a "weasel", "a person to whom only a centipede looks upto etc".

And anyone who succeeds in backing your opinion gets bestowed with the sobriquet "highly qualified physical training professional who is an expert in cricket".

You, my friend, are behind the times -- do your research on Ian Frazier, you might find a different picture of the man's qualifications and acceptance as an expert (even in his home country).

But then again research has not exactly been your strong suit in the past either --whether it has been in evaluating your ex-captain (who you so non chalantly abuse) or when it comes to evaluating events in the field using your self proclaimed past experience (yes evaluation of on field events requires research too --into one's own experiences).

Based on your comments (in the past under your earlier avatar btuli, and now under the more aptly named one), the one point agenda that you refer to more aptly describes your way of thinking. Or is that point so obvious and redundant that is it is but a silly point (to everyone but you perchance)!!!

[jks61]

kban..my take here. You do not have to respond to each post. There will be always opinion contradicting yours. Take it easy. It is a fact that certain catches which look great at replays are a result of initial mis-judgement. This is very true in any ball game type of atmosphere. Let us take a parallel to cricket - baseball - I see over 150 games a season and see well over 30 catches a day in ESPN. Some of them make to sport center top plays because they look good but often even the players admit that they initially took the wrong route to the ball and had to dive and the dive made it great in the screen but the whole thing was due to initial mis judegement.

[Jai]

great catch great catch great catch

give sourav the credit
give sourav the credit
give sourav the credit

It's not enough. Repeat another hundred times. After that, I'll tell you your next task.

[Jai]

add to that Grumpy's line "test cricketers are expected to take such catches". ...what a combo!! frazer(let's call him Frumpy) badly needs a modestomechanics expert and Grumpy a smilomechanics expert.

May be Frazer and GC need to be told that an International coach and his assistant are expected to make such contributions without giving quotes to the media regularly. Frazer has probably given more sound bytes in 4 months than Leipus and LeRoux put together during their entire stay with Team India.

[gouravk]

Maybe you need to be told that you have the option of ignoring those sound bytes.

[kban1]

jks:


I actually watched the whole event live and have the whole sequence on tape.

The misjudgment, IMHO, was marginal simply because the ball was hit hard, went up, and was coming down fast. It was not one of those skiers which stay in the air interminably and then descend --the whole thing happened reasonably quickly.

Even if he had judged it accurately, he would still have had to backpedal at a furious pace because he was walking in as the bowler had delivered the ball. So even if he had picked up the flight immediately, it would hardly have been the easy backyard cricket catching practice catch that many claim it would be.

But all this is based on cricketing merit -- if you go to the thread where this catch was discussed, you will see that a lot of people disagreed with me, but I did not respond to them or counteract their points.

Why ? --because it is a matter of opinion. Not every one has the same skill levels, and some of those guys may well have taken it a little easier than I could.


I agree I do not need to respond to every post. I only reacted here because Frazer's comment did appear like a cheap shot and I responded to silly point because he attacked my opinion with an illogicall belly belching rant --not that I am surprised, I have seen that before from him. But seeing it before and accepting it are different issues, especially when the point he is trying to make is silly.

[gouravk]

Yeah, kick out Frazer. The world will be a much better place then.

[Jai]

Maybe you need to be told that you have the option of ignoring those sound bytes.

Oh yeah? Do you ignore any negative sound byte on SG? If you have learnt to ignore, this earth would have been a better place IMHO.

[gouravk]

Well, I ignored this one by Fraser didnt I ??

Yay !! I made the world a better place.

[Jai]

Well, I ignored this one by Fraser didnt I ??

Yay !! I made the world a better place.

That's because it suits you. And as you may have noticed, my initial post was not meant for you. You may have also noticed that many others didn't ignore the news and I was trying to communicate with them. I was commenting on a news item and I believe that's what we mostly do on this DG i.e. someone posts a news item and others comment on it. Does it make any sense to you?

[jks61]

forget Fraser's quote..but that kind of speech is normal in the western world..believe me. it used to sound very uncouth in my early years here (US) but such speak is common and does not mean the negative way it comes across to the straight jacketed Doordarshan style of English tuned.

[gouravk]

Haha
You did directly respond to me when you said repeat it a 100 times ...

... anyway it does make sense to me ... Im simply marvelled by the way you guys jump to defend SG at any slight opportunity ... even when there is no real need in that he hasnt been seriously attacked.

Keep it coming.

[jks61]

Haha
You did directly respond to me when you said repeat it a 100 times ...

... anyway it does make sense to me ... Im simply marvelled by the way you guys jump to defend SG at any slight opportunity ... even when there is no real need in that he hasnt been seriously attacked.

Keep it coming.

The thread is supposed to be about FUN..as usual it has gone in the familiar direction. I am not sure why SG causes so much passion - both in the pro and anti segments. The passion is so strong that at the slightest opportunity, each side is ready for a blood spill, daggers are out and blood pressure shoots up. I have not seen such extreme reactions to the hot topics which have been plaguing our country for years - like 'apathy of youth to democracy', apathy of youth to poitics, corruption, poverty, illiteracy, ignorant, comical ministers...so many..why why..such extreme reaction to just one man...?? forget him..he is going to be a non issue one way or other shortly.

[vsiddharth]

Kban:

Another point...I don't know how you are going to deal with this, but I find it a little unsavoury to see a moderator jump vigorously into partisan debate (by partisan, I mean defending a point of view that you hold) even if the decencies of debate are preserved. I don't mean to criticize you, since yours is not an easy position to be in, nor am I suggesting that someone else would be able to avoid this trap better than you, but I offer it as something to think about.

[jks61]

Kban:

Another point...I don't know how you are going to deal with this, but I find it a little unsavoury to see a moderator jump vigorously into partisan debate (by partisan, I mean defending a point of view that you hold) even if the decencies of debate are preserved. I don't mean to criticize you, since yours is not an easy position to be in, nor am I suggesting that someone else would be able to avoid this trap better than you, but I offer it as something to think about.

good point siddarth..

[dhruvdeepak]

younis and rana living it up also

[kban1]

vsiddharth and jks61:

I am a cricket fan as much as you guys are. I like cricket and I believe I have the right to express my opinion and partcipate in a debate as much as the next person as long as

1) I do not exceed the limits of propriety
2) Set a bad example by the language that I use to express my opinions
3) Misuse any powers granted to me by the position I hold
4) Adhere to the concept of recusing myself from adjudication of any dispute that might arise between me and another member.

My being a moderator should not interfere with my desire, intention, and rights to participate in a debate as long as the above points are adhered to.

Keeping the general spirit of your post in mind, I have been mindful of the comments I make. And in the history of my posting on this DG and the other (as well as the blog), nary has there been an instance where I have not preserved the propriety of discussion and debate (even before I was a moderator). Please note that of the numerous times someone has not agreed with me (sometimes vehemently), I have only responded to a miniscule number of those posts.

However, I do hold that being accused of something based on patent and unfair stereotpying, and being personally attacked at the same time for expressing my opinion on an issue unrelated, per se, to my attacker is a tad bit too much. I reserve the right to refute this person's irrational personal attack by pointing out flaws in his argument, and that is what I did (Please note, I did not resort to name calling or personal attacks as I was subjected to).

While it would have been great to have offered him my other cheek, I am but a moderator, not Jesus

[toney]

Kban:

Another point...I don't know how you are going to deal with this, but I find it a little unsavoury to see a moderator jump vigorously into partisan debate (by partisan, I mean defending a point of view that you hold) even if the decencies of debate are preserved. I don't mean to criticize you, since yours is not an easy position to be in, nor am I suggesting that someone else would be able to avoid this trap better than you, but I offer it as something to think about.

Not trying to be a lawyer for kban1, but he has every right to his own opinions. Where, in the book of rules for moderators (co-authored by feverpitch and fineleg ) is it written that they cannot be part of such discussions?
As long as you dont use bad language, I think you have the right to speak your mind. Obviously, such posts would be more credible when backed up by facts or by revealing the thinking behind the post. And kban hasnt disappointed on that either.

[kban1]

Toney:

thanks for the support.

[dhruvdeepak]

kban1 has made a very clear statement on what his contributions will be to this DG, and there is absolutely no reason to question him.

[Blwe_torch]

You Gangulians have a one point agenda dont you? Anyone who says something you dont like is being ungracious or malicious.

This statement is coming from a highly qualified physical training professional who is an expert in cricket. But you wont take his word that he misjudged the catch.

This is known as Gangulitus!

How can a 'highly qualified physical trainer'..tell you whether a catch has been mis-judged or not?...Do 'expert cricket comments' fall within the purview of his curriculam?
If yes, why can't we play him as an 'expert fielder' for India...cum onfield physio...and the others...auto-kinesis, cricket-kinseology and what not! 

[feverpitch]

Where, in the book of rules for moderators (co-authored by feverpitch and fineleg )

A small modification. The credit for the "RuleBook" should go entirely to fineleg. My contribution, so far as it's meticulous, thoughtful and comprehensive content goes, is simply restricted to providing the ocassional inspiration. But that should not take the limelight away from Dr. Watson...

[toney]

Where, in the book of rules for moderators (co-authored by feverpitch and fineleg )

A small modification. The credit for the "RuleBook" should go entirely to fineleg. My contribution, so far as it's meticulous, thoughtful and comprehensive content goes, is simply restricted to providing the ocassional inspiration. But that should not take the limelight away from Dr. Watson...

Alright, but then dont try to claim any royaty that may come your way. BTW, royalty here will be chappals and rotten eggs.

How can a 'highly qualified physical trainer'..tell you whether a catch has been mis-judged or not?...Do 'expert cricket comments' fall within the purview of his curriculam?
If yes, why can't we play him as an 'expert fielder' for India...cum onfield physio...and the others...auto-kinesis, cricket-kinseology and what not!

Actually, he took some credit for Veeru's innings too. He said that he improved Veeru's hand eye co-ordination (forgot the excct term he used) by asking Veeru to bat without a bat and other such exercises. He claims to have fine tuned Veeru's thought process. I found it believable and thought it was a novel appproach. Frazer said it was a good way to get youngster improve their skills as well.

[Cover Point]

First of all, I have a name on this board, if you need to address me, do so without lumping me together with your fictional category which you so unimaginatively call "Gangulians".

So first of all you dont need to take this so personally. You have echoed thoughts very similar to a majority of people on this DG. In a lot of these people's views Ganguly can do no wrong and any little thing he does is built into a mountain while belittling everything that any of the other Indian team members did (The constant comparison of Ganguly to Sehwag and Sehwag's record in 2005 until he shut everyone up with his double hundred is just one example)

Yes thusly I club all Ganguly supporters as Gangulians. I dont believe its a derogatory term. But it is a term that displays my beliefs.

You do not know me, my preferences or my likes and dislikes to say what

In that matter no one knows anyone here! Everyone reacts to what they read attributed to their handles here in the DG.

you just did. I understand the propensity to boldly wade into realms of ignorance, but may be once in a while you could exhibit a little more discretion.

Why? You go on later in the post and attack me personally (which by the way I am very much ok with .. remember its a free world) calling me ignorant and what not. I am not gonna ask you to be discreet. You are entitled to your opinions.

Does it ever occur to you that the catch, which you so tamely dismiss as nothing more than ordinary, actually appears to many of us (who have played on the field) as an extremely difficult catch and that I may be reacting to the belittling of that effort rather than just supporting someone who I do like  ?

I understand you have played cricket too (as you have informed us when introducing your new nickname on this DG) but maybe your level of skill and fitness is such that you deem that catch to be ordinary, which I do not. What am I supposed to do -- kow tow to your superior cricket playing skills (lost in the eons of time past, lest we would have been seeing you on screen, not these two bit players who don Indian colors) and admit that SG's effort was ordinary ?

I read this and I start thinking of all those words people dont like. For one who can write so eloquently you really did not comprehend my point. I am not saying that I am a better fielder or even as good a fielder as even NEHRA, I doubt anyone on this whole DG would be close to even the worst national fielder. I am also not making millions by playing cricket (I actually have to spend close to $500 to play in our league during the summer for just 4 months .. so much for that).

I am comparing Ganguly to an average international cricketer and comparing that catch to an average catch taken at the international level. In our leagues lots of routine catches get dropped (simple skiers are dropped occasionally). It is rare to an international player drop sitters!

So another analogy for you, when you go and watch a movie and say "yaar is Govinda ki acting mein mazaa nahin aya ... that Nana patekar can act much better" I doubt the critcizer can act better than even Govinda.

There is a reason that these guys are professionals and you and I are not!

You, my friend, are behind the times -- do your research on Ian Frazier, you might find a different picture of the man's qualifications and acceptance as an expert (even in his home country).

Ian Frazier is a professional bio-mechanist. So you can poke holes in anyone if you want. This man is a proven professional and I have no reason to doubt his evaluation. You were using Deano's expertise on outfield catches called him one of the best outfielders. Deano was a very good close in fielder! Rarely did he play in the outfield. Get your facts right!

Based on your comments (in the past under your earlier avatar btuli, and now under the more aptly named one), the one point agenda that you refer to more aptly describes your way of thinking. Or is that point so obvious and redundant that is it is but a silly point (to everyone but you perchance)!!!

You may call it a one point agenda or call my point silly, I have my opinions and you have yours. Your agenda seems to be .... Ganguly apun ka Baap hai, kisi aur ka naam lena bhi paap hai. I beg to differ slightly

Uhh and I had said this before, feel free to go ahead and attack me personally. I still believe in freedom of speach. I like to call a spade a spade and a moron a moron a a person lower than a centipede a Ganguly!
 
Cheers

[OldPal]

Actually, he took some credit for Veeru's innings too. He said that he improved Veeru's hand eye co-ordination (forgot the excct term he used) by asking Veeru to bat without a bat and other such exercises. He claims to have fine tuned Veeru's thought process. I found it believable and thought it was a novel appproach. Frazer said it was a good way to get youngster improve their skills as well.

I seem to have missed that intersting read, So was Veeru batting against IKP and AA without bat, MAN ! that should have been scary .

[feverpitch]

Alright, but then dont try to claim any royaty that may come your way. BTW, royalty here will be chappals and rotten eggs.

How could I.   I am not very enamoured by Chappel ... er ... chappals anyway...

[gouravk]

Yes, if people call Ganguly fans, Gangulians they should be proud of it !!