New Delhi, November 22: Former skipper Wasim Akram advised Indian bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan not to take his place in the team for granted after rookies like Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron have impressed all and sundry in the recent home series. Zaheer, recovering from an ankle surgery, after breaking down in England had missed the ongoing West Indies series but is expected to return for the Australian tour next month.
Zaheer can not take his place for granted in the Indian team. He has been out of cricket for a long time and unfit as well. He has started working in the nets, but bowling in the middle is an entirely different thing, Akram said. He must play loads of domestic cricket and the selectors must monitor him closely.
I am sure India does not want a repeat of England in Australia. Hence preparation will be key, he added. The former left-arm seamer reckoned that the team s upcoming tour of Australia will be an opportunity to salvage its oversees reputation after the winless tour of England last summer. India s poor summer in England was largely due to injuries to key players. (Virender) Sehwag, Harbhajan (Singh), Zaheer (Khan), (Gautam) Gambhir, Rohit Sharma pulled out at various stages of the tour and this upset the team totally, he said. India can not afford this in Australia. It will be a crucial tour to salvage India s overseas reputation and I feel (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni s boys have a great chance to come out with flying colours.
The legendary seamer advised the Indian players to attach utmost importance to fitness in order to avoid repeating its disastrous showing in England. Akram said the support staff will have their task cut out as fitness will be the key to its fortunes in the upcoming tour. India s tour of England this summer highlighted the importance of being fit. Physical fitness is key to mental toughness. When the head sits atop weak legs, mind and body can never meet. This is what happened to the Indian team as England whitewashed Dhoni s team with gay abandon, he said. India s back-up staff will have their task cut out. Not only during the long and gruelling series in Australia, but even during the weeks leading up to the tour Down Under, he added. While India boast of a formidable battling line-up, Akram felt bowling is a weaklink. India s batting will be their greatest strength. Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar will definitely like to leave their mark on this tour and why not? Dravid and Laxman are in great form and I am sure Tendulkar will rise to the occasion as well, he said. The only worrying point is India s bowling. It will be crucial to strike a good balance and keep the quickies fresh in mind and body. Fitness will be key and young bowlers like Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma must take great care about their bodies. I remember how I got thrashed in Australia because I could not bowl the right line and length because of bad fitness.
—Agencies