The Hindu : Sport : `Fitness levels could be better'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 09, 2007
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Sport

`Fitness levels could be better'

Our Correspondent

Mysore : Indian cricket team trainer Gregory King expressed his satisfaction over the conduct of the five-day fitness training camp for fast bowlers that concluded on the Infosys Campus in Mysore on Friday.

"We have been able to achieve everything that we set to achieve. We have done what we usually do in a fitness camp; assess the fitness of the players, make sure that the guys understand and get on to their individual programmes. Also, bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad had a one-on-one session with the bowlers on technical aspects," King told the media.

King, however, did mention that the fitness levels of the bowlers could be better.

"To be frank, the fitness levels can be better. That's why camps like this are good as it helps us assess as to where the players stand and for those who are below the mark, we have tried to get them back on track," King said.

Split sessions

The trainer explained that the daily schedule was split into two sessions that focussed on conditioning, running, strength training, fielding skills and bowling skills. And as for unwinding and some team-bonding, the players indulged in a bit of swimming, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, squash, billiards and snooker.

King was also pleased with injured speedster Munaf Patel's recovery. "Munaf is looking good and coming along well. Obviously, John Gloster (physio) will have to assess him at the next stage, but he completed all the fitness drills with the same intensity as everyone else," King said while adding that there was no regular pattern in injury-related woes for the fast bowlers.

"I don't think there were no more or no less injuries than before. A lot of time we can't get the right reason behind these injuries. Of course I would like to see improvement in certain areas as each guy has been individually spoken on what he needs to do," King said and mentioned that the bowlers were given a specific fitness training schedule for six months according to each individual needs, with an eye on the long season ahead.

Leadership Programme

King also said that Irfan Pathan has been bowling well in the camp.

The bowlers also attended a `Leadership Programme' at the Infosys Leadership Institute (ILI) inside the campus.

The bowlers were divided into two groups and they were given lectures by the Infosys staff on issues like working together towards a common objective, communication skills, working as a unit and other aspects.

Besides King, left-arm seamer R.P. Singh also addressed the media. The Uttar Pradesh seamer mentioned that fitness was the camp's guiding principle.

All about fitness

"It was all about fitness, keeping in mind the busy schedule ahead. Prasad had one or two sessions with us on bowling in which we concentrated on body positions and follow-through," R.P. Singh said.

He also expressed that conditions in Ireland and England would be different and one has to get used to the wickets and conditions and perform accordingly. The camp concluded at 2.00 p.m. and the players along with the support staff left for Bangalore by bus.

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