We have to look ahead: Ganguly

By Vijay Lokapally

HARARE, JUNE 12. The celebrations are over and there is a job at hand. After a day off from cricket, the Indian cricketers get down to business. The second Test starts three days from now and there is a lot to do. That is what skipper Sourav Ganguly promises.

The Indian skipper had every reason to be pleased. It did not matter that he failed again with the bat. ``What matters more is the fact that the team won. We're not worried about individual failures and successes really.''

Ganguly made it known to the players that there was no room for complacency. ``I know there won't be any but then we have to be prepared. It was a good victory but we've to look ahead. It's a young team and it's good that some of the boys got to taste an overseas win early in their career. It should no doubt motivate them.''

What stood out, in Ganguly's opinion, was the overall attitude of the team. ``Cricket is a mind game,'' he informed. No, it was not a new discovery but just a statement confirming the change in the thinking of the captain too. ``Ability counts but mind is the most important part when competing at this level. We won at home and now overseas. The series isn't over yet and that's why I say we've to maintain a certain level of consistency when we go to Sri Lanka and South Africa later this year.''

The frustrations of losing from winning positions have been erased. ``We all used to be concerned at not being able to win abroad. It was a jinx basically and now that it's been broken I would like to extend the winning run.''

Ganguly is satisfied with the fact that he now has an effective third seamer at his disposal. ``In the past, that was a major concern but things look good now. I don't know if it's all about ability, attitude, luck. I want the team to do well and the ways have to be found by us collectively.''

Coach's input counts

The team has begun to adapt. ``The wickets get flatter once the seam movement stops after the initial stages. We've tried to improve our approach on flatter tracks. It's tough but we've to adapt. When the ball seams, the slips come into position more than they do in India. We also have to remember that overseas we can't attack always. There are stages when we have to adopt defensive tactics too. We are all learning and here I must say that the input of the overseas coach does count a lot.''

Ganguly pointed out the advantage of having someone like John Wright as coach. ``He's played lot of cricket overseas and knows the conditions very well. He reads the game very well and that helps a lot. What I like is that he keeps all of us on the toes and just doesn't allow anyone to relax and take things easy.''

There was no reason, observed Ganguly, for him to lose sleep over his lack of form with the bat. ``I'm not thinking about it at all. I had a rough decision here and back home failed in just two Test matches - at Mumbai and Chennai. I got some runs in the last one-dayer. See, I've been captain for 18 months and have scored runs consistently. I think it's more of a lean patch than captaincy affecting my batting. I'm working hard.''

In Ganguly's opinion, the team has started to look confident and the drive to improve is infectious. ``We've started to play as a unit. We've seen success and want each other to do well. This togetherness is the probably the biggest gain of the tour thus far. In my view, all the members of the team have contributed towards the victory. They understand that if they have to make a name for themselves it's important that the team wins.'' On his own role, Ganguly said ``I know I and John (Wright) have an important role to play. We have to keep the team together and believe me, our job has been made easier by the fact that the players want to be together.''

Looking at the Test match ahead, Ganguly assured the effort would be much more than what was seen at Bulawayo. ``The expectations would've risen and we all are aware. It's not that the team will bask in the glory of the first Test. We do realise that we should've bowled better and batted better. The fielding has looked tidy and all our training efforts are beginning to show now.''

There was some concern regarding Ashish Nehra's follow-through and Ganguly admitted ``yes, it's a worry but then we are confident he'll come back strongly. Not just Ashish but even Zaheer has to be careful. It's a technical adjustment and the coach is working on them and I know they will deliver.''

What then was the most important gain from the victory of the first Test? Ganguly was quick ``I think the contribution from the lower order. That's been the most significant gain from the win in my opinion. The partnership between Harbhajan and Dighe swung the game our way. I had told Harbhajan not to worry about the situation much. I just told him to play his natural game, to play his shots, because he can't defend. I've made sure not to put pressure on the tailenders. If they score runs, it's fine, but let them not lose sleep over it.''

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