Dying to get back home: Sourav

Source: Times of India     Date: August 31, 2001

COLOMBO: Room No. 231 is a special address in Taj Samudra - the majestic edifice on the Galle Road where both the Indian and Sri Lankan teams are staying. It's been the home of Gangulys - the first family of Indian cricket for the last one-and-a-half months now.

Tucked away at an exclusive corner of the second floor and overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the occupants of the suit have been privy to one of the most stormy phases of Indian cricket in recent times.

Dogged by a lean form, which even often forced cries for his head, Sourav Ganguly had been bearing everything with fortitude, albeit withdrawing himself into a shell. However, he had at least wife Dona all along to provide the emotional succour. "I am really longing to get back home now, what with the South African series on in less than three weeks," said Ganguly, nestling comfortably in a sofa after an early dinner.

Dona, who is in her seventh month of pregnancy, flips through a magazine, while the Maharaj is almost loathe to discuss cricket now. With no other cricketers' wives available on the tour, Dona mostly has Mate - wife of administrative manager Anant Mate - for company when hubby goes out in the middle.

"This is my third trip here, and we have already acquired quite a few friends. However, with my movement restricted for obvious reasons, I have not been able to go out much and socialise," said Dona, an Odissi dancer of repute.

The only venue where they haven't been before was Kandy, and both loved it. "It's one of the most beautiful places we have ever been to," she gushed.

Blame It On Balls

The 50-day tour is nearing the end, and it's not been a memorable one at all for young Harbhajan Singh. After the euphoria of the success against Australia, "Bhajji" has been finding it little rough in the sub-continent and he wants to blame it on the balls being used here.

"We are playing with the Kokaburra balls, whose seam is not as pronounced as the SG balls we are used to back home. It becomes even difficult when the ball gets old, but I must sort this problem out before the South Africa series," he said on Thursday evening. He'd rather do it fast, for Kokaburra is the most popular variety used in the world now.

'Team' Spirit

It was a noble gesture from the Sri Lankan team during tea of third day's action here. Several members of the team, including skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, walked up to meet and chat with a section of the handicapped soldiers who sit in the eastern stands near the giant scoreboard. All these soldiers have suffered loss of limbs during their resistance to the bloody LTTE movement, which has wreaked havoc in this country for more than 15 years now. That's the spirit, Sanath!