Ganguly: I take things ball by ball, Test by Test
Anand Vasu - 18 December 2001

© AFP

Despite being under the ferocious glare of the English media over the past four weeks, Sourav Ganguly is as relaxed as an Indian captain can be on the eve of the third and final Test at Bangalore. The depression over the Bay of Bengal has driven storm clouds to the 'Garden City' yet this too has not dampened Ganguly's enthusiasm. "Naturally we're looking forward to the game," he began, speaking to pressmen.

The Indian team was denied the chance of a much hyped 3-0 sweep when England forced a strong draw in the second Test at Ahmedabad. Set 374 to win in the final innings, the Indians decided not to risk losing wickets and handing the match on a platter to England. The Indian captain has come under criticism for this but maintains his position, "Different people have their opinions on the subject. With Nasser (Hussain) setting defensive fields, there was not much we could do. If he set attacking fields we would have gone for it even though we might have lost a few wickets in the process."

But captaincy has not been the biggest worry for Ganguly. Having not scored a century in 19 Tests, the Indian captain's form with the bat poses a cause for serious concern. When asked whether he had set himself any personal goals before the start of the series against England, Ganguly had this to say: "I don't like to say I'll score 300 or 400 runs in a three-Test series. I take things ball by ball, Test by Test. I want to make runs every time I go out and that's the most important thing. By nature I'm a positive batsman that's how I've been brought up. I can’t change my game all of a sudden," explained the Indian captain.

The wicket at Bangalore was re-laid recently and no one can say with any certainty how it will play. At the end of the Ahmedabad Test, Ganguly remarked that he would like to play on a 'result pitch' in Bangalore. There needs to be something in it, either bounce or spin, he said.

On the subject of the wicket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium however, Ganguly was non-committal, "Getting a result doesn't depend only on the pitch. It also depends on how both teams play," said Ganguly.

With wickets in the subcontinent being generally low and slow, the visitors have used the sweep to good effect on occasions. Most batsmen play the shot and this has forced the Indian team to change their line of attack on more than one occasion. Ganguly, however, was not irritated by this approach.

"You play the sweep a lot only when you're not confident of defending the ball solidly and when you're not ready to use your feet and come down the wicket to the spinners," he said. "With a little extra bounce or turn, it gives Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble more chance of taking a wicket." Coach John Wright, who has been in the media spotlight in recent times, was seen at the nets going about exercises and drills with renewed vigour. The speculation over the extension or otherwise of his contract seems to have had little or no effect on his work.

"We would like to improve on our performance in the last match. We got a few chances, but didn't really take them. The boys are motivated and in good shape for the final Test," said the former Kiwi skipper.

The core of the Indian think-tank, Ganguly and Wright, seem keen to close out the series 2-0. There's a spring in their step and a confidence in their voice that would warm the heart of any Indian fan.