‘The build-up has been great, now we are ready to play’

How has the camp gone? Great, really. It’s been a good build-up to the long season we have ahead of us. Also, the practice facilities h...

How has the camp gone?

Great, really. It’s been a good build-up to the long season we have ahead of us. Also, the practice facilities have been excellent. More specifically, I had an opportunity to see the nine bowlers who were called up for the nets. I must say I was impressed with what I saw. It would be safe to say, we have some high quality talent there.

Has this camp been very skill-specific?

Yes, it would be, as we have sort of concentrated on spreading the labour. Kiran (More), Kapil and Sunil (Gavaskar) have dropped in and have been more than helpful. It’s always a positive sign when the present generation interacts with the past. There have been four nets, we have had a large pool but it’s been easy with a manager around.

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Have the outside inputs — yoga, Geet Sethi, et al — been of any help?

It is always nice to have a new perspective. Here were men who have done tremendously well in their fields and were looking at specific aspects. The presentations were excellent — the one on media by Prannoy (Roy) was especially relevant (laughs). Also the world champions Geet (Sethi) and Prakash (Padukone) were tremendous. It was a good initiative by BCCI to have these men come and talk to the team.

How does this camp compare with the one in Chennai before the home series against Australia in 2001?

Those were different times, it was excellent then. But this time around the camp has been divided into fitness and cricket camps, so it has been different in that session. We have covered lot more players this time around and also we have had more resources on hand. Also I think the fitness standards have improved.

So are we now ready for Australia?

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It’s a long way away. This is a build-up to the New Zealand series. I would only say this much we have had a fantastic build-up, I think we are ready to play.