Simons encouraged by the depth of Indian squad for World Cup
The Indians are being billed as the favourites for next year’s World Cup as they thrash opponents left right and centre in their build-up to the tournament.
The hosts of the World Cup have been all over the beleaguered New Zealanders and are now on the verge of a clean sweep as they line-up for the fifth and final ODI in Chennai.
The back-up players have been in great nick and have done really well in the absence of some of the leading players, the likes of regular captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 and Harbhajan Singh.
The assistant coach of the Indian team Eric Simons has claimed that there are hardly any injury concerns in the camp and most of the players want to do their best in the premier cricketing tournament that the Indians won in 1983.
He singled out a few players who have impressed him during his stint as the main coach in the absence of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gary-Kirsten-c58527 who is busy plotting the downfall of his countrymen, the South Africans, as the Indians take on them in a test and ODI
series.
One of them is the experienced middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh who was under intense pressure during the ongoing series against New Zealand yet held his own when the chips were down, similarly Yusuf Pathan tonked one of the best hundreds
in the history of limited overs game during the fourth ODI at Banaglore.
"There are no injury concerns," Simons said. "No one is ruled out but if we don't play anybody tomorrow, it will be more of a precautionary measure because we leave for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in a few days time. We are not experimenting, and will
pick the best team we can."
"Yuvraj was under tremendous pressure the other day [in the fourth match] but his shot selection was pretty good," Simons said. "I am quite happy with the way he played. He was striking the ball pretty well. He is clearing the boundary
with ease and that proves he is timing the ball well, and batting with confidence."
"Lots of people talk about Yusuf's power but what excited me more was his temperament between the boundaries," Simons said. "That is something he has added to his repertoire and augurs well for him as a number seven batsmen."
Simons feels that the bowling options in the Indian camp are as good as any and the likes of off-spinner Ashwin and wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel have made the most of the chances that were given to them against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 that has made
them serious prospects for future.
"When the World Cup team is selected, a number of guys will be in contention because players are putting up their hands," he said. "It is a very exciting time for coaches and selectors. It is tremendous to see http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Parthiv-Patel-c2159 working hard for a place. It develops
healthy competition among the entire squad. Ashwin has been very encouraging. He has different variations in his bowling which plays a key factor in the slog overs. I think he is moving forward with each performance."
After the final ODI against the New Zealanders the Indians have the South Africans to contend with in their five match series. Besides they would also be playing three test matches against them, in the meantime the selectors have a real headache as they
try to finalise the final fifteen after the string of impressive performances by the fringe players.
On the other hand it gives one an indication of the talent available in a country that is set to take over as the real champs of the game in the coming few years.
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