Peak performance manager, Dr. Vece Paes, put through 39 of the 40 Bengal Ranji Trophy probables, who attended the first day’s training at the Eden Gardens on Friday, fitness drill. The only absentee was medium pacer, Ranadeb Bose, who reported sick.
Dr. Paes and trainer Chinmoy Roy divided them into two groups and put the wards through the drills for more than an hour. The probables were then taken to the conference room where Dr. Paes told the boys the need to be at the optimum fitness level right through the season.
To make each player aware of his responsibility, he handed over a fitness programme called ‘peak performance programme’ and asked them to strictly follow it regardless of whether one was in the team or not.
Fitness test
The probables will go through a fitness test on Saturday at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Eastern Centre, and on Monday they will be taken for medical test.
Dr. Paes informed that a different set of training would be evolved for pace bowlers, batsmen and wicketkeepers in course of time. “I have handed over a programme for general fitness which has to be maintained throughout the season to perform at one’s peak.
“Thereafter, some specific drills, both with and without weights, would be introduced to support individuals after assessing a player’s capacity to take load,” he said.
Expressing his satisfaction with the first day’s workout, Dr. Paes said he was overwhelmed by the dedication and sincerity of the players. “We found all the players in good physical condition. Now we can take our programme forward,” he said.
Nets session will begin only after coach Roger Binny takes over next week. Binny is expected to be here on Wednesday or Thursday.
Physiotherapist
Meanwhile, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is considering to appoint Shyam Sundar Jayabalan as physiotherapist for the upcoming season.
Jayabalan had worked with ICL teams for two seasons after moving out of Tamil Nadu. Prakash Raja will be the video analyst.
Bengal will be participating in Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup as part of its pre-season training and has drawn to play Vidarbha in the first match on September 1 and 2. Bengal will play Kerala (September 3-4) and host Hyderabad (September 6-7).
The three-day semifinals and the final are slated for September 9 and 13 respectively.
