The fitness question again

You might have noticed it. And wondered why. Indian batsmen staying rooted to the crease during the recent South African and Zimbabwe cricket tours, simply ignoring singles which were there for the running. And bowlers striking frequently off length and line.

How come Sachin Tendulkar's boys put up such a lethargic show?

The reason, it would appear, is the obvious -- lack of physical fitness. And we now have it straight from team manager Sunil Dev himself.

In a confidential report to the Board of Cricket Control, Dev has confirmed that it was 'lack of stamina and fitness' which saw the team perform the way it did. ''South Africa and Zimbabwe were head and shoulders above the Indian team," Dev submitted, comparing the Indians' fitness with their opponents'. He points out the many runouts and missed singles as proof.

Interestingly, he has not mentioned anything about Javagal Srinath's shoulder injury in his seven-page report. This, Dev claimed, was because the report was prepared much before the seriousness of the star bowler's injury became known. ''I wasn't aware of the gravity of the situation," he said, "When I asked Dr Ali Irani for his medical report (the team's physiotherapist) he said he was supposed to give it direct to the BCCI president."

This is the second time that the team's un-fitness has come up. Earlier, BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur had said that the players were not fit when they toured Sri Lanka.

Dev further talks adversely about food, travelling and medical facilities and the tour itinerary in his report. He goes on to recommend that the Board allow at least a 15-day gap between tours, appoint an official exclusively to look after the team's travel facilities and ensure that host countries provide proper medical facilities and arrange enough local bowlers for net practices.

He has also pointed out that it is greatly uncomfortable to wear ties and jackets in South Africa and Zimbabwe and asked the Board to provide 'smart casual' uniforms to the team in such situations.