India assess net worth

One searched for meaning in Sehwag’s gingerly movement across the field but in the current dispensation of Indian cricket, every little information is guarded with maniac zeal. Otherwise, there was enough to be entertained about the visit to the venue and a little byplay which occurred between a few Indian cricketers. The venue itself was a good 40-minute drive from the hotel and made one wonder if the local authorities could not arrange anything better close by.

Locals claimed there were options aplenty nearer the hotel itself.

Still, a visit to Chadwin Park was worth the ticket if nothing else then for the fact that the great George Headley practised and honed his skills at this very venue.

Ramesh Powar carries enough deception in his portly frame and it seemed to prick the pride of Yuvraj Singh who earlier had seemed in sublime form against other bowlers. Powar’s tantalising loop and dip clearly messed up Yuvraj’s footwork on one occasion. The two left the pitch, promising each other a more convincing round the next time.

Dhoni, at the adjoining pitch, batted as only he can. He once hoisted Harbhajan Singh clean out of the boundary walls of the ground past the running street. A few subsequent buck-up calls from Chappell didn’t seem to have an assuaging effect on the otherwise ebullient Sardar.

Outside the ropes, biomechanist Ian Frazer tempted Mohammad Kaif and Irfan Pathan to leave the crease and meet lobbed deliveries on the pitch. Skipper Rahul Dravid came in for some easy nets but found himself once bowled and then continuously presented with short-pitched stuff by a couple of local bowlers. Almost bored, he produced a few hook shots before retiring in the shade.

The young fast bowlers were the first ones to take control of nets as they bowled to get their line and length in order. Irfan Pathan, clearly in a conservation mode, moved ever so slowly to his bowling mark and bowled only slightly above military medium-pace, it seems he has realised the virtue of spacing out on such a long tour.

The session carried on with good intent for nearly three hours before everyone in the Indian team fitted himself somehow inside a van and headed back to hotel.

WI players move up

Dubai: Wins over Zimbabwe have pushed West Indies players up the LG ICC player rankings. Batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan moved into the top 10 in ODIs, while Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul also made good progress. Gayle was up three positions to 14th, Chanderpaul to 26th (up six). Lara remained unchanged in 33rd place. On all-rounders’ list Gayle is is now just behind Irfan Pathan, who is third.

In batting Mahendra Singh Dhoni remains at No. 2, after Australia’s Adam Gilchrist.

(Agencies)