This Sachin leaves Sehwag in distress
In Friday's training session, the India camp spent a few nervous moments when Sehwag took a blow on his right thumb while fending an awkward ball against the fast bowlers. Sanjjeev K Samyal reports.
Call it the World Twenty20 jinx or bad luck, Virender Sehwag desperately needs a change in fortune in this event.
He missed two successive events, 2009 and 2010, due to injury and hasn’t started the current edition on the right note.
In Friday's training session, the India camp spent a few nervous moments when Sehwag took a blow on his right thumb while fending an awkward ball against the fast bowlers.
At first, the injury didnt look good as the India opener threw down his bat and clutched his thumb in obvious pain. It brought an end to his nets session.
After icing the thumb for around 20-25 minutes, he returned to take a knock, but didn’t feel comfortable and quit after five-six hits.
Fortunately, it’s not a serious injury and the media manager later informed that the opener was alright.
NASTY DELIVERY
Ironically, it was a Sachin who became the centre of attention during India's nets session. It was Sachin Peres, a Sri Lanka under-19 pace bowler, whose delivery reared off length and struck Sehwag.
Peres was a stand-bye for the Under-19 World Cup and is known in the local circuit for his sharp bouncers while turning out for the Colombo Cricket Club.
“I think he is okay because I hadn’t bowled the ball at full throttle; it just rose from a spot. I checked on him and enquired how he was? He said: ‘forget it, I am okay’,” said Peres.
Yuvraj misses nets
The other news of the day was Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina missing the nets due to illness. Yuvraj was suffering from a throat infection and Raina had an upset stomach.
Reportedly, the India camp had issues with the quality of food which was being served to them, and have changed the caterer.
Some other teams too had similar issues. Earlier this week, five South Africa players were down with viral infection, vomiting and diarrhoea, and on Monday, three members of the New Zealand team — Tim Southee, Rob Nicol and Daniel Vettori — suffered stomach trouble.Otherwise, India’s nets session went off well, starting with a gruelling fielding session which alternated between close-in fielding and high catches. Later on, the batsmen alternated between facing spinners and fast bowlers.
PRACTICING BIG HITS
At the side of the two nets, coach Duncan Fletcher had his batters practice big hits, which Irfan Pathan, Virat Kohli and Manoj Tiwary seem to relish the most, tonking the ball all over the P Sara Oval Stadium’s roof.
Tiwary came up with the most powerful hit of the day when his big hit smashed the glass on the upper-tier of the Press Box End.