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« Season's greetings | Not a damaging loss »
September 13, 2008Posted by Aakash Chopra on 09/13/2008 in
Long form, short preparation
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Our first game of the season starts on Monday, when we take on Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited from Pakistan for the Mohammad Nissar Trophy in Delhi. We've spent the last couple of weeks preparing for this match, keeping in mind the demands of a first-class game. The first phase of our camp focused on the physical aspect, and we pushed ourselves a lot harder in the training sessions. Not that the skills were ignored, but often we would hit the nets with slightly tired limbs. The idea is to get into top physical condition to ensure that we last the rigours of a four-day match.
Barring Gautam [Gambhir], Viru [Virender Sehwag] and Ishant [Sharma], none of us has played the longer version since the last game of last season. We've been involved in active cricket, but it has only been in the shorter version of the game where the physical demand is very different. Shorter versions require a more dynamic approach, which is based on speed, while the longer version requires the endurance to last 90 overs a day, for four to five days. Batting in the longer version requires more adjustment in the head, but bowlers have their job cut out. Unlike bowling four and 10 overs in Twenty20s and ODIs respectively, they're in for a long haul. They must send down at least 15 to 20 overs a day, and in different and longer spells.
We faced a slight hiccup in our preparation as rain decided to play spoilsport.The rain came down in the night, and unfortunately, it blew away the covers, leaving the practice wickets completely drenched. We couldn't get a hit for a couple of days, and were reduced to focusing on the physical aspect once again.
A friend of mine had come down from England and come to the ground with me to see our training session. He absolutely loved our new stadium in Delhi, but was a little disappointed to see that we didn't get a hit in the nets. He asked me if I was frustrated for not getting an opportunity to bat. Of course I was, and I promptly told him so. He couldn’t believe we didn't have indoor facilities. Delhi, after all, is where one the most affluent cricket boards in the country is located, and we are the Ranji champions. I told him that there were plans to provide for a state-of-the-art indoor facility, but we both knew that these plans were at least a decade too late.
This reminded me of the time I spent recuperating after a knee surgery in 2003. I was almost certain I'd get called up for the Indian camp prior to the home series against New Zealand. I hadn't batted for a few months following the surgery and desperately needed to start batting. It was going to be the biggest chance of my life. But it was raining cats and dogs in Delhi, and there wasn't even a single wicket available for practice. I was desperate, but couldn't do anything about it. I ended up taking a bowler friend of mine to a nearby school where I stood in the rain and batted while we found some shade for him. I could only manage a few throw-downs everyday, definitely not the ideal preparation for attending the national camp. That was then, but nothing seems to have changed since.
Thank God the rain has stayed away for the last couple of days, and we're getting enough batting and bowling practice in the nets. Hopefully it'll be enough to take us through the first game of the season.
Wish us luck.
Posted by: chewing gum at September 13, 2008 7:18 AM
All the best to the Delhi Ranji team. It was truly magical when they won the Ranji Trophy... and hope they clinch the title once again. All the Best to you Aakash, i think concentration is what you have lacked most of the times, nevertheless you have been a great player. It is quite unfortunate that the crores of money that the state association make are probably used up in their annual elections, maybe they should shift focus from the proxy wars and get down to getting the indoor net facility for you guys. Hopefully you guys could then win them the cup every year and not just after 14 years. All the Best to you and your team!!
Posted by: Madhu Kiran.R at September 13, 2008 7:33 AM
Hi Aakash
All the very best for the match and hope Delhi lads score some runs to force your ways into selection.
Posted by: Gargesh VN at September 13, 2008 7:46 AM
Aakash, who according to you are the upcoming Indian bowlers in the first-class Circuit?
Posted by: Isam at September 13, 2008 8:29 AM
Aakash, I'm a 24-year-old left-arm spinner in Bangladesh and I would really like it if you sent me your email address. I have to ask a few questions.
Thank you
isam_32@hotmail.com
Posted by: Nikhil at September 20, 2008 1:13 AM
You know there is something seriously wrong with Indian Cricket when the country's in form opening batsmen and best close in fielder is not in the national team. Maybe you should defect to England and play for the instead!
Posted by: Abhimanyu at September 25, 2008 11:48 AM
OMG, I can not believe this, that there is no indoor nets in Delhi which is the capital state of India. I mean seriously what is wrong with the Delhi sports administrators ? Where are all the crores of money (millions of dollars) going into. Are these cricket administrators eating up all the money ? We cricket fans have the right to ask these administrators that what are they doing with all this money, are they putting it in their pockets ? Aakash you just put the truth forward for world to see here. Now I can assure you that we cricket fans and the media are going to do something about this. Come on cricinfo ... I would love to see a page in your magazine about what these administrators are doing with all this money. How are they helping Indian cricketers when they do not even have indoor facility ? I always though that cricinfo was independent and owned by politics and the BCCI. Why can not show the truth to the world ? Who and what is stopping you from doing this ?
Posted by: Abhimanyu at September 25, 2008 11:48 AM
OMG, I can not believe this, that there is no indoor nets in Delhi which is the capital state of India. I mean seriously what is wrong with the Delhi sports administrators ? Where are all the crores of money (millions of dollars) going into. Are these cricket administrators eating up all the money ? We cricket fans have the right to ask these administrators that what are they doing with all this money, are they putting it in their pockets ? Aakash you just put the truth forward for world to see here. Now I can assure you that we cricket fans and the media are going to do something about this. Come on cricinfo ... I would love to see a page in your magazine about what these administrators are doing with all this money. How are they helping Indian cricketers when they do not even have indoor facility ? I always though that cricinfo was independent and owned by politics and the BCCI. Why can not show the truth to the world ? Who and what is stopping you from doing this ?
Posted by: Abhimanyu at September 25, 2008 11:48 AM
OMG, I can not believe this, that there is no indoor nets in Delhi which is the capital state of India. I mean seriously what is wrong with the Delhi sports administrators ? Where are all the crores of money (millions of dollars) going into. Are these cricket administrators eating up all the money ? We cricket fans have the right to ask these administrators that what are they doing with all this money, are they putting it in their pockets ? Aakash you just put the truth forward for world to see here. Now I can assure you that we cricket fans and the media are going to do something about this. Come on cricinfo ... I would love to see a page in your magazine about what these administrators are doing with all this money. How are they helping Indian cricketers when they do not even have indoor facility ? I always though that cricinfo was independent and owned by politics and the BCCI. Why can not show the truth to the world ? Who and what is stopping you from doing this ?
Posted by: Abhimanyu at September 25, 2008 11:48 AM
OMG, I can not believe this, that there is no indoor nets in Delhi which is the capital state of India. I mean seriously what is wrong with the Delhi sports administrators ? Where are all the crores of money (millions of dollars) going into. Are these cricket administrators eating up all the money ? We cricket fans have the right to ask these administrators that what are they doing with all this money, are they putting it in their pockets ? Aakash you just put the truth forward for world to see here. Now I can assure you that we cricket fans and the media are going to do something about this. Come on cricinfo ... I would love to see a page in your magazine about what these administrators are doing with all this money. How are they helping Indian cricketers when they do not even have indoor facility ? I always though that cricinfo was independent and owned by politics and the BCCI. Why can not show the truth to the world ? Who and what is stopping you from doing this ?
Aakash Chopra opened for India in 10 Tests, forming a potent all-Delhi combination with Virender Sehwag during India's tour of Australia in 2003-04. He also made his mark as an exceptional close-in fielder. He writes columns for the Hindustan Times and Cricinfo, and is the author of Beyond the Blues, his season diary for 2007-08, when Delhi became Ranji champions. His website is here, and his Twitter feed here
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