With Goa playing against Jammu and Kashmir in their firstmatch in Group C of the Ranji Trophy tournament, Doda Ganesh, former Indiaplayer and now coach of the team says motivation is high.
Also present at the Goa Cricket Association in Porvorim wasthe coach of the J&K team, the stormy petrel of Indian cricket Bishan SinghBedi. Speaking of his team’s chances he said “Well we have a long way to gobefore we can make a mark. We have come here with minimal practice.”
Speaking about the Ranji Trophy tournament, Bedi felt thatit was sad that not much attention was being paid to the tournament. “Doesanyone really care? We had a batsman score a double hundred on debut in thematch between Punjab and Hyderabad, did anyone care. It is really sad. There isa distinct lack of interest in conducting tournaments like the Duleep trophy.It is certainly not good for the game in the long run. The BCCI today is onlyinterested in conducting the IPL.”
According to him, with the series against England set totake place the only department of the BCCI that is active is the IPLco-ordination committee. This absence of strategic thought was galling giventhe manner in which the English team was going about preparing for the series.Asked what his thoughts were about the outcome of the series he said “Well theyhave a better spin and pace attack and they seem very motivated. I will nothazard a guess as to the direction the series will take. It is possible topredict an election but in cricket, never”.
Asked for his comments on the selection of the team for theseries, he posed a question. “Why are we carrying dead wood? Why did we dropHarbhajan in the first place, if we are selecting him now? He has not set theGanges or the Beas on fire.”
His anger however was pronounced whiletalking about the absence of spinners in the country. “We do not havespinners in the team but dart throwers. Giving the ball air is an art that hasall but disappeared. Today spinners vie to play in the IPL and bowl four overs.How can you expect to develop spinners in such a scenario?”
