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The Raj Singh Dungarpur Chat

amitagg: I don't wish to comment on matters pertaining to selection. Its the job of the selection committee to select in its collective wisdom best Indian side.

RSD, This is Murali from Singapore. I have a suggestion. Why don't we get a foreign coach like say Dave Whatmore, who did wonder's for the SriLankan team ? We definietely need a guy like him, touch and practical in approach... What do you say ?

Mr Singh..HOw about making the Indian pitches more friendly to fast bowlers instead of spinners only.. India seems to do well here our spineers bi`ut we struggle abroad..can we not make pitches here that give the fast bowlers any help?

MrRSD>> We have former Test players - Venkat, Maninder to name just two - umpiring today. Why then are we using unknown umpires in these Titan Cup games, and giving our visitors a reason to complain?

Mr singh don't you have any say in the selection..can you not overryule a decision by the selection comittee?

Rajitha: I don't think the umpires are solely selected on zonal basis. What is extremly encouraging is that the test cricketers and first class cricketers are now entering the arena of umpires and this would unquestionably raise the standard of Indian umpires. I do believe sincerely that we have too many umpires and as a result to which they dont get enough matches to gain exposure and experience. I would like to suggest the numbers of our international umpires to be reduced.

Mere baat aap sun rahen hai kya, Raj bhai?

Raghu-bhai, hum sab sun rahe hain... :-)

Mr. Singh, do you think that players of the caliber of Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara or Gary Kirsten should be given the additional responsibility of a captaincy. Should not a cricketer like Tendulkar with such enormous talent be just allowed to play his game.

Murali: I dont think we require a foreign coach. Because we have quite a few of our former test players available who are mentally in to the demands of the present day game. And physically fit to be part of the team during this practice sessions.

You must have had immense talent to make it on the first class circuit for 16 years. How come you never played for India?

amitagg: I have no say in the selection and having been a selector myself, I would not have like any interference from my board president nor will I myself indulge in it.

Thank you Mr RSD. Thank you Prem. Goodnight...(SS)

think what 'steel' says is right. we need to have an alternative captain to Sachin. he has sort of come down a level from the time he has become the captain.

Can u explain why David Jhonson is dropped without giving him chance in a single one day game?

Snip>> Nice to have you on board, as per usual. :-) Good night, see you Sunday. Stay safe and smilin'.

This is Murali again. I was closely watching the thrww teams, which took part in the Singer Cup, which was held in Singapore. I saw Dave Whatmore, the coach of SRI Lanka, with a paper and pen, watching each and every delivery, noting some points..For eg, I believe they had studied Saurav Ganguly's weakness to play on the leg side, and attacked him on his leg side (in the recent SriLankan Singer Cup).. That is what we need the present Indian coaches to do..That is not seen to be happening.. We have talented players, but no killer instinct.. that is when we need a foreign coach.. think about it...

Rajitha: In case of Maninder Singh, there is a specific requirement of doing ex-number first class matches before graduating to test and one day cricket. And he is very shortly going to complete this requirement and will be available to umpire at the international level. Venkat stood in the one of the first test match against Australia and will be doing finals of the Titan triangular series. He of course has taken umpiring like duck takes to water and is deservingly considered to be if not the best, one of the best umpires in the game today.

Hey, this is for the person who logged in without a handle - Murali? ASking Mr RSD about selectorial decisions seems a bit of a waste, given that he has already mentioned that he does not wish to interfere in matters selectorial, why not quiz him on Indian cricket matters in general?

steel: Sachin is made of different stuff. He loves the challenge. And response to it very well. I think in time to come, he will be surely a great player and outstanding captain. We are judging him bit early and expecting far too much, to soon.

I liked the "no comments" bit on the team selection, Mr. Dungarpur. Fiery subject, huh?? Wisdom of the selection committee?? Indeed, I can only but agree!!!!!

Murali: I have no official information but as a student of the game, I would say at this point of time, he is more suited to test cricket than limited overs. Because of his inexperience.

Mr RSD>> Does the BCCI propose to augment the Indian team with a sports psychologist? I ask because we keep talking of lack of mental fortitude being the reason for our defeat.

Ok RSD, on a different pitch..Nowadays we see a lot of six-a-side games becoming popular..Do u think they will slowly replace one dayers some day (or night !) ?

keep kambli out permanently keepkumble in permanently

Hotu>> *grin* YOur sarcasm is showing... :-)

Hotu: Yes, I played for my state Rajasthan for 16 years as a fast medium bowler, looking at myself through the selectorial eyes, I was just about a Test prospect for first two years and those years happened to be when Ranji Trophy was played on knock out basis and didn't get exposure after that like large number of Indian cricketers. I was quite complacent and unfortunately did not work hard. And as such deservingly was never considered for the Indian team. Complacency is one of the deep rooted ills or disease of Indian cricket.

Mr RSD>> What specifically do you do or will you do to develpo cricket at the grass roots level?

Murali: Six aside game is a carnival and not cricket. I sincerely hope it will not surface at the highest level.

Mr RSD>> I read somewhere that this year, 100 one day internationals have already been played. India has been playing continuously from the World Cup on, and a tour of SA and Windies still to come. Isn't this overkill? Is the board being rather greedy for money, at the risk of burning out the players?

Mr. Singh, I think you had mentioned in one of your interviews that cricket like tennis should be played year round. How will domestic cricket be structured to prepare players for the high-stress, high-commitment international scene. In addition would you be in favor of having corporate sponsors for the Rangi Trophy or the Irani Trophy?

Hi

amitagg: BCCI has already drawn a very intense cricket programme at under 16 level as also under 19. What I would like to do is to give them intense physical conditioning and draw a calendar of international visits home and away to give them greater exposure and then harness them till such time they win India cap.

Do you think it is right for someone who has never played test cricket to choose the test team? Why cannot an ex-test cricketer do it? Or do you think he is only good enough to be a manager and coach, or crib in the press?

Mr. Dungarpur: As a "student of the game" would you go into an important one dayer with five specialist bowlers or four bowlers and some make shift trundlers to make room for an additional batsman?

Photograph: Rajesh Kerkera