Ganguly wants longer tenure for players

Expressing opposition to frequent chopping and changes in the team, India skipper Sourav Ganguly said a longer tenure for players will not only give them the necessary confidence at the highest level but will also help in building a better team.

Ganguly, who will lead India on the tough tour of South Africa later this month, however, also expressed disappointment at the team's failure in crunch situations.

"Definitely, it's frustrating when hopes are not fulfilled. It is natural to be disappointed. But it is also true that if you want the best performance from a cricketer, you will have to give him a good length of time. If you keep changing and chopping players frequently, you cannot build a team," Ganguly was quoted as saying by the Bengali daily Ganashakti, published from Calcutta.

Commenting on the recent Sri Lanka tour, the elegant left-hander said, the team hardly gained anything from the tour except for some "firmness in our opening".

But the skipper stressed the need for big scores from the openers, saying, "Ramesh played well, but he should consider that getting 30/40 runs is not enough in Test matches."

However, he was confident of doing well in South Africa with a "full strength" side.

"It is good that all the injured players have returned. There is no doubt it is the most difficult tour, but we have a full strength team, so I am hopeful of doing well there," he said.

He emphasized that the return of star batsman Sachin Tendulkar will be a morale booster for the team on the tour. "The overall image of the team has undergone a change after his (Tendulkar's) return. The team will put up its best performance there," he added.

On his on-field behaviour, which has often landed him in trouble with match referees, Ganguly said: "Passion will always be there. As the captain of the team, if you do not show some passion or emotion, then all efforts will go in vain. Not only me, Sachin is similarly emotional."

On his personal preparation for the South African tour, Ganguly said he has not yet fully recovered from his stomach problem but hopes to be fit by the time the team leaves for South Africa.

On his record as captain, Ganguly said beating the formidable Aussies in the home series was a significant achievement while the overseas Test wins in Bulawayo and Dhaka were also important.

"Within a span of one year, these three successes were very important for us," the skipper declared.

Mail Cricket Editor