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This is one place where wishing the Indian team by saying "Break a leg" is strictly forbidden. "Health Check" takes you into the hitherto-unexplored realms of Andrew Leipus and Adrian Le Roux. Keeping weekly tabs on the aches and pains, or hopefully lack thereof, of the Indian team, "Health Check" gives you the complete low-down on the fitness levels of the touring side.
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Not yet a perfect fit, but getting there
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Adrian Le Roux is a good influence. It is not easy to persuade any
bunch of cricketers, and particularly the Indian ones, to wear their
soles out in fitness training after a particularly crushing defeat,
but the South African not only undertook the arduous task willingly
but accomplished it too.
Accordingly then, the Indians, soon after their arrival at Antigua,
followed up a demanding net session with a gym workout and then
another fitness session in the swimming pool. Le Roux, appointed as
fitness trainer before the start of this tour, joined in actively
during the various workouts, preferring a hands-on approach to merely
sitting back and watching the proceedings with a benign eye.
"I've noticed a remarkable change in their attitude," said Le Roux of
the Indian cricketers. One of the most notable must be the manner in
which players are giving up their favourite foods to remain calorie-
conscious. Most Indians are good trenchermen, but Le Roux's
instructions have persuaded the cricketers out of sneaking food on the
sly.
Le Roux is inspirational, no doubt, as Kolkata 2001 heroes VVS Laxman
and Harbhajan Singh willingly testify. "We can feel the changes within
us," says Laxman. "He makes you enjoy the exercises," adds Harbhajan.
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It is too early yet for India to start effecting catches like the
South Africans, but the improvements are noticeable. The bowling and
batting fronts may have let India down at Bridgetown, but the fielding
certainly was not a problem. Matters were helped, of course, by the
presence of the athletic Ajay Ratra behind the stumps; Deep Dasgupta,
whatever his other sterling qualities may be, is, for a former
gymnastics champion, remarkable un-agile and rusty.
Fitness problems of a more serious kind struck down Mahendra
Nagamootoo. Scheduled to play in the Barbados Test, Nagamootoo
suffered multiple head and body injuries when he was involved in a
minivan crash in Berbice. He was flown to Trinidad for extended
treatment, but sports specialist Terry Ali stressed that the situation
was not as serious as it sounded.
"He has improved tremendously over the last couple of days after
suffering multiple head and body bruises," said Ali. "I am
recommending that he take a complete rest from all physical activity
for the next three weeks to a month before attempting to come back and
play." Nagamootoo, therefore, will only make it back into the
Caribbean team for the one-day series.
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