CHANDIGARH, November 17: From being a national selector to the Indian team's cricket manager, it has been a graduation of sorts for Anshuman Gaekwad, who is known for his meticulate manners. Typical of the man, Gaekwad thanks the almighty for his appointment, and at the same time feels that Madan Lal was unfortunate to have gone like this. But Gaekwad realises he cannot spend too much time thinking about what has already happened. He has a task at hand as India and Sri Lanka get ready to battle it out at the PCA Stadium from Wednesday.

``I am thankful to the Board for having affirmed their faith in me and I will try everything to prove them right. I will put all my experience to use for the betterment of the game in general and the team in particular. The boys are with me in the mission,'' said Gaekwad.

He said that no coach in cricket can work on a pre-set plan and that it ``varies from a match to match, depending on the weather, wicket and the situation the game is in. Cricket is a funny game and it can all change within minutes. Obviously, one can plan different options for different situations but there is no scope for the stereotypes.''

``That's where the cricket manager steps in. He has to guide and counsel the players and see them through such phases. Sometimes a player catches a technical flaw, which the cricket manager has to rectify. I will put it in this waya cricket manager is the coach as well as the mentor and the motivator,'' added Gaekwad.

``However, I still feel that the performance of the cricket manager should not be gauged by a couple of failures. He needs a couple of years to establish himself,'' he feels.

Gaekwad replied in the affirmative when asked whether he was satisfied with the composition of the team for this Test match.``It could not have been better,'' he said, though he refused to divulge on the final XI for the Test, saying, ``It is too early to decide on that.''

He was all praise for the PCA Stadium and the practice facilities offered. ``It seems as if the wicket has had a top dressing with a little amount of moisture left on it. We will monitor it again tomorrow before planning our strategies for the game. It is a very crucial game, as it is a series opener. We will go out positive, trying to be one up after this Test. The Lankans are world champions but Test cricket is a different ball game altogether. Though it is very difficult for anybody to predict the exact behaviour of the wicket, yet it is a good wicket on which the battle between bat and ball should be even. We will play according to that,'' he said.

Gaekwad brushed aside any apprehensions regarding Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, both of whom are back in the Indian team after `recovering' from injuries.``Both Srinath and Prasad are bowling as well as ever,'' he said

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.