Little Master’s Chennai sojourn began on Monday, even as his fitness test was postponed by a couple of days.
In Chennai
Little Master’s Chennai sojourn began on Monday, even as his fitness test was postponed by a couple of days
Any failure of Sachin Tendulkar to attain full fitness in time for the Test squad selection will not be for the want of effort. The batting maestro started his training at the MRF Academy in Chennai on Monday with a series of shoulder strengthening exercises.
Tendulkar, who is recuperating from a shoulder injury, spent about an hour in the gymnasium and did scapula and core strengthening exercises besides tubing, pilates and speed exercises.
“I am fine. I did some scapula and core strengthening exercises today,” Tendulkar said later.
He had undergone a shoulder surgery in March and is hoping to regain full fitness ahead of the Test series against the West Indies. He will be training here from May 16 to 20 under the supervision of trainer Ramji Srinivasan, who said that he had devised a special physical training programme to meet Tendulkar’s needs which would be arranged in tandem with what team physio John Gloster had recommended.
“It will mainly comprise sessions involving functional training, besides core strength stability, scapula strengthening stability, agility, speed and footwork movement training,” Ramji said. “But the focus would be on shoulder strengthening, which incorporates the scapula and core strengthening.”
Tendulkar has expressed the desire to undertake morning and evening sessions for 90-120 minutes. He has also said that his inclusion for the Tests depends upon the progress he makes here.
In Jamaica
Indian team had its first practice session in the West Indies, ahead of their tour opener against Jamaica XI today
With their body clocks still fighting jet lag, the Indian cricket team had its first full practice session ahead of their tour-opening game against Jamaica XI on May 16.
One of the more important items on the agenda was obviously to ensure a firing Virender Sehwag. So the coach Greg Chappell took aside Sehwag and seemed to be giving the Delhi opener lessons on how to play short-pitched deliveries. It stoked the anticipation for the session ahead before disappointment set in. Sehwag, who recently dismissed suggestions that he was vulnerable to short-pitched bowling, padded up only at the very end; faced a couple of local bowlers with complete disinterest before rounding off the day.
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. Still, a visit to Chadwin Park was worth the ticket if nothing else then for the fact that the West Indian legend George Headley used to practise and hone 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.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni 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 calls to buck-up from Chappell didn’t seem to have the desired 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.
When you are in the Caribbeans, you have to party. But all play and no work won’t win any matches.
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