Ganguly146;s hands-on style gives India a shoulder to lean on

Despite that, he refused to bowl.

Keen India-watchers, including Geoffrey Boycott and Harsha Bhogle, have often said on TV that Ganguly seldom practices his bowling in the nets. Since he became captain, Ganguly has entrusted the fifth bowler8217;s job to people like Sachin Tendulkar, and more recently to the young crop of spinners like Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh.

But a combination of factors 8212; the Australian pitches, where spinners wouldn8217;t be as successful, and the injuries to half the Indian attack 8212; meant that Ganguly had to take the plunge. And how!

As an ODI batsman, Ganguly has few peers. But as a complete cricketer 8212; batsman, bowler, fielder 8212; he has often fallen short. Especially on the ground, he is easily India8217;s worst fielder. But at the same time, cast your mind back and you8217;ll recall that Ganguly has, among current cricketers, the best strike-rate in hitting the stumps. There was a time, before he became captain, when he was also a brilliant catcher and often brought off blinders while fielding in the slips.

But all that went after he became captain. There are two explanations: One, that he didn8217;t think such plebeian activities were becoming of him anymore an argument that8217;ll find a lot of takers, or that there were greater things on his mind. Whichever the case, he became a burden on the field.

Till the ongoing series. No catch he8217;s taken so far is a stunner. The run-out was smart, but Ricky Ponting might have reached the ball quicker and run the batter out by a longer yard. But there8217;s a bit of a change in our man. He is looking more proactive on the field and seems focussed on each ball as a fielder, something he wasn8217;t. Misfields have also not come as thick and fast.

The new and improved Ganguly, to top his reputation as a gifted leader and talented batsman, can only be good news for India. Now only to see how long it lasts.