E-Paper
Laxman needs to run harder
It was good to see Laxman back among runs. He, however, needs to run harder because that helps his partner, writes Sourav Ganguly.
Southampton is one of the prettiest grounds in England, so it was nice to get a win under our belts in the ICC Champions Trophy. Of course, we were expected to win against Kenya, but they are decent side who can do a lot better with more opportunities to play at the top level.
While the environment at Rosebowl is something to rave about, the same cannot be said about the pitch. It has always been slow and it became very slow and a bit damp after soaking in some rain. It was hardly the surface for stroke-makers.
I was not surprised when Kenya elected to field. I would have done exactly the same. However, losing the toss turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us as it gave another opportunity for our batsmen -- still struggling to come to terms with English conditions -- to get their act together.
Moreover, it is always good to put runs on the board against opposition.
Our gameplan was to bat normally in the first 15 overs and not take too many risks as the new white ball moves around quite a bit in these conditions. It was therefore important to keep wickets in hand for a good slog in the end. Our plan was working well, but just when we seemed to be in control, Virender Sehwag played an unnecessary shot to get out. He was beginning to settle down and looking good when he threw it away. Sehwag and Yuvraj are key members in our line-up and it's important for them to strike form quickly. It was good to see VVS Laxman back among runs. He, however, needs to run harder between the wickets because that also helps his partner.
