The big question surrounding Team India’s bowling ahead of the first Test against England is Zaheer Khan’s fitness, says a report in The Times Of India, adding that his ability or lack of it to last the distance will be crucial to India’s chances.
“On Friday afternoon, when 14 of the 15-member squad arrived at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium for a preparatory camp, Zaheer clearly didn’t seem very sprightly. He walked on to the field with the rest of his mates, got into a huddle, played a bit of football as part of the warm-up, and headed straight to the massage table after a brief chat with coach Duncan Fletcher,” says the TOI report, adding that Zaheer spent the next 40 minutes with physiotherapist Evan Speechly, who helped the bowler with his stretching and muscle relaxation routine.
“By then, the rest of the squad had hit the nets and put in a strenuous two-hour session. The left-arm seamer joined the rest of the bowlers in the nets later, bowling around 25 to 30 deliveries at military medium. His strides were slow and the trademark jump at the crease was non-existent, says the report, adding that there was no official information available on Zaheer’s fitness, which first looked doubtful when the bowler had pulled up sore, clutching his groin, and walked away during Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Railways last Sunday.
Meanwhile a report in Hindustan Times says that India began their preparation for the England series with a low-key training session at Brabourne Stadium on Friday. “Zaheer Khan’s fitness was the main point of interest. He participated in a game of football and then spent a lot of time on physio Evan Speechly's table receiving a massage, before hitting the nets. The leftarm pacer bowled for around half an hour, but at a leisurely pace,” says the report.
“Virender Sehwag showed no signs of discomfort from the finger injury he suffered last week during Delhi's Ranji game, treating the net bowlers with utter disdain during his 20-minute batting session,” adds the report.