
SINGAPORE, SEPT 4: Suddenly, everything appears to be rosy for Indian cricket; batting, bowling, fielding 8212; everything was top class against the hapless Zimbabweans today.
Was this the same team that had run out of steam and ideas till yesterday? Skipper Sachin Tendulkar, however, was guarded. 8220;We have to be consistent. One or two victories doesn8217;t mean you should raise the team to a higher plane. Similarly, a defeat or two shouldn8217;t be used to put the team down,8221; he said in a call for consistency.
Complimenting his bowlers for a 8220;tremendous showing8221;, Tendulkar said: 8220;We have worked really hard for this victory and are going to continue in the same manner in the next two games.8221;
He played down the revenge factor in today8217;s game. 8220;Yes, it was a disappointment losing to Zimbabwe in the World Cup but revenge was not on our minds. It is a game after all.8221;
JADEJA INJURY: While Tendulkar put the onus on the team doctor Dr Ravinder Chadha, coach Anshuman Gaekwad denied knowledge whether itwas of a serious nature. Jadeja withdrew from the match despite his best efforts to extend his stay at the middle. Saurav Ganguly, who came in as runner ended up lending a helping hand to a limping Jadeja.
8220;We would only come to know about it tomorrow morning,8221; Gaekwad informed. While Dr Chadha is left groping to pass a ruling on the fitness of another player, there is every likelihood that Jadeja will sit out of tomorrow8217;s game against the West Indies.
Very disappointing8217;
If Zimbabwean skipper Alistair Campbell had had his way he would have dumped his team in the nearby Kalang River after their exit from the Challenge Cup. 8220;This was a tournament which should have given the guys to find their feet since we were playing as a team for the first time since the World Cup. We didn8217;t do it. It is very disappointing,8221; he said.
Campbell hit out at his bowlers for not executing the game-plan 8212; of bowling at the right spot. 8220;Our fielding had been pretty good, but if we aren8217;t going to back it upwith decent bowling we are going nowhere. If you are going to give so many extras in a 30-over game, you8217;re not only bowling overs but also landing a five per cent fine on your match fees which is hardly good.8221;
Campbell underlined his disappointment by quoting Sir Don Bradman. 8220;Sir Don once said that cricket is 90 percent mental and 10 per cent ability. The mental approach is sadly lacking in a lot of people in the side.8221;
Looking ahead at the season, which includes Test series against Australia and South Africa, he said: 8220;There8217;s some tough cricket ahead and the guys ought to take a long look at themselves.8221;
Campbell believes Zimbabwe should overcome their grey areas 8212; bowling at the right spot and building partnerships in batting against good sides.
Campbell sympathised with India for not winning the World Cup. 8220;India is an accomplished batting side as they showed in the World Cup. Too bad, they didn8217;t win the Cup,8221; he said.