Captaincy: Sourav for ODIs, Anil for Tests
Sourav Ganguly, who was retained as skipper for the upcoming Zimbabwe series, today brushed aside criticism on his form and fitness and said he was "expecting" the decision.
Ganguly,who is currently playing for Bengal against Raliways in the Ranji Trophy semi-final, said he had "played well in the one-day internationals and I expected to be retained". He admitted he had not been doing well in the last eleven Tests though. "I have scored runs but the big score has not come. Except for my 98-run knock in Kandy (Sri Lanka), I have not done well with the bat."
But he hoped to pull up his act and make up for it in the forthcoming two-Test and five-one day international series against Zimbabwe.
Asked if he was fit now, given the niggling injuries that have been bothering him for some time and the viral fever that kept him bedridden for almost a week, Ganguly shot back, "I was there in the field throughout. How do I look?"
The Bengal left-hander also said he was not bothered by the selectors' policy of deciding skipper for a particular series and not on a long-term basis. "The series by series selection is fine by me. Its simple. You do well you carry on. You don't and you're out."
Ganguly "shocked" at Steve Waugh's sacking
Meanwhile, the Indian skipper, who has had a testy relationship with Steve Waugh on the field, expressed shock at the Australian's sacking from his country's one-day squad. "I am shocked and surprised. He is the key man in the Australian team. This is probably the worst decision they could have taken," Ganguly said. "This is no way to treat a cricketer".
Reminded about his less-than cordial relationship with Waugh, Ganguly said such things happen on the cricket field. "Off the field, we are good friends". He predicted that Steve Waugh would be back in the squad and lead Australia in the World Cup next year
