India in the West Indies 2006
Ignore past and build on the present - Chappell
Greg Chappell, India's coach, believes that his side's recent Test performances and their overseas record should not weigh on their minds as they attempt to win in the Caribbean for the first time since 1970-71. With India due to play five one-day internationals and four Tests against West Indies, Chappell said it was imperative that India replicate their successful streak of one-day victories in the five-day format. "People are obviously aware of the history, but we have nothing to prove barring the fact that we can win away from home," Chappell told Reuters. "Worrying about the outcome is not going to help us win the series. You need also to be looking at developing players and the only way they can is to be playing matches under pressure. "We have made good ground in the last 12 months, especially in one-day cricket," he added. "We need to apply the similar processes to Test cricket, bearing in mind that Test cricket is more demanding. We have got to be more aware of the flow of Test cricket, of the important moments, the important sessions in Test matches." Under Chappell, India have set the record for the number of consecutive one-day chases (16), overhauling West Indies' 14 chases in the mid-'80s. Chappell gave the example of West Indies sides of the 1980s and 1990s as well as Australia, who successfully transferred one-day success to Test cricket. "If you look at the great West Indian teams that dominated world cricket for two decades and the current Australian team that has been on top for nearly the same length of time, one-day cricket was the catalyst for them getting better," he said. Chappell added that the return of Brian Lara as West Indies captain was a positive move. "I have no doubt Lara coming back as captain is a positive thing," he said. "It will be a change for them, I'm sure it will invigorate them, invigorate him."
Dravid ready for a tough tour A few hours before embarking on the trip, Dravid made it clear that India were focussing on the current series in hand, with merely an eye on World Cup preparations Tendulkar begins practice Minute-by-minute scrutiny of Sachin Tendulkar's injury continues as he batted for 25 minutes at the Mumbai Cricket Association ground, watched by Ian Fraser, the bio-mechanist and Gregory King, the Indian team's trainer. Both Fraser and King were happy with his performance at practice. His fitness will be assessed on May 20 and Andrew Leipus, the team's former therapist will assist him in his recovery. Tendulkar first batted for five minutes and then after a break batted for 20 more, with the ball thrown at him. This was his second time wielding the bat since the operation, opting for some light batting practice yesterday, with John Gloster, the team's physiotherapist looking on. Tendulkar pulled out of the seven-match one-day series at home against England in March-April 2006 and had surgery on his shoulder on March 29 after he complained of pain while throwing the ball, though not while batting or bowling. He will not play the one-day series against West Indies beginning May 18 in Jamaica. The decision regarding his availability for the Test squad will be taken once Gloster, Dr. Andrew Wallace, his surgeon and Tendulkar himself are confident of his recovery, Niranjan Shah, the board's secretary, explained. The Test team will be announced on May 24. In 2004, Sachin suffered a tennis elbow which kept him out of the Champion's Trophy in England and the first two Tests at home against Australia in October the same year. courtsey @ cricinfo edited by sharetipsinfo . Click here for Indian stock market tips