SEHWAG SHAPING WELL FOR CT : DHONI

Virender Sehwag, recuperating from a shoulder surgery, was shaping well for the Champions Trophy, according to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who said the dashing opener may however not be ready for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in early September.

"He is improving every day. He is putting in a lot of effort to get ready for the Champions Trophy," Dhoni said on Thursday.

On Sehwag's chances of playing in the tri-series in Sri Lanka starting on September 8, Dhoni hinted the batsman may have to sit out of the event.

"It's (tri-series) too soon, with just a few days to go," he said.Sehwag has been following a rehabilitation programme, which makes him doubtful not only for the September 8-14 tri-series in Sri Lanka but also cast a cloud of doubt over his availability for the Champions Trophy in South Africa starting on September 22.Dhoni said apart from Sehwag, there were no other injury issues and the players looked in perfect shape for a hectic schedule ahead."We just had a mid-term fitness test and we'll have a camp before the tri-series to get back into the groove and get ready for the long season ahead," Dhoni said.

I WANT TO SCORE HEAVILY IN TEST MATCHES

India's only batsman to hit two triple centuries, opener Virender Sehwag says his penchant to hit big centuries in Tests was driven by critics doubting his calibre in the longer version of the game.

"In Test matches I'm very cautious. I want to score more runs and I want to score big runs and I want to prove everyone wrong because when I came to the Indian team everybody was saying 'He's only a one-day player, he cannot bat in Test cricket'," he said on an ICC talk show.

Often compared to Tendulkar, Sehwag said he always wanted to emulate the little master.

"I wanted to become a Tendulkar, but that's not possible because he is a God of cricket. When I was watching him on television, I tried to copy every single shot."

SEHWAG RACING AGAINST TIME FOR CT

After being out of action for over two months following a shoulder injury that needed surgery, dashing opener Virender Sehwag is hoping to return to top-notch cricket through the ICC Champions Trophy next month.

"I am hoping to play in the ICC Champions Trophy. My rehabilitation is going well," said the Delhi marauder on the sidelines of a book release function here on Friday.

Sehwag underwent a surgery on June 11 after a lesion was identified in the injured shoulder and he was ruled out of action from between 12 to 16 weeks. The lesion was expected to heal in six weeks.

Indian team's physio Nitin Patel was given the task of monitoring Sehwag's rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.The Champions Trophy, earlier termed the Mini World Cup, is also to be held in South Africa from September 22.

Sehwag said he will start batting practice from the first week of September and is now able to lift 10 kg with his injured shoulder. "But I can't throw or bowl yet," he said.

As a first step towards a recall into the Indian team, Sehwag, who has played in 69 Tests and 205 ODIs in which he has amassed a combined 12,000-plus runs, at a fabulous strike rate of close to 90, is to visit the NCA in Bangalore on August 15.


"I am set to go to Bangalore (NCA) on August 15 (for assessment of his progress from injury)", said the ace batsman who has 26 hundreds to his credit in Tests and ODIs combined.

Significantly, the Indian selectors are to meet on August 16 to pick the Champions Trophy squad, as well as the ODI squad for the triangular series in Sri Lanka preceding it, on the next day at Chennai.

Sehwag's selection for the ICC event would depend on the report that would be sent by the Indian team physiotherapist ahead of the selection panel meeting. He has been visiting the NCA after his surgery as part of his rehab process.

If he fails to make the cut for the Champions Trophy the next target is the seven-match ODI series against World Cup champions Australia that commences on October 25.

SEHWAG'S GLORIOUS HITS

sehwag whacking ball!!

flick off the pads
square drive
gone out of ground

ABOUT VEERU'S INJURY

The injury to Virender Sehwag has taken a new turn with reports suggesting that the opener may be forced out of action for three to four months, leaving his participation in the ICC Champions Trophy in doubt. 

The ICC Champions Trophy is to be played in South Africa from Sept. 24 to Oct. 5 and post-operation reports have suggested that the dashing opener from Delhi cannot return to competitive cricket until the first week of September, according to a report published in The Hindu. 

Sehwag was operated on June 11 after arthroscopic investigations by Dr. Angus Wallace, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at The Park Hospital, Nottingham identified a Grade II Superior Labral Tear from Anterior to Posterior (SLAP) lesion in his right shoulder.

Sehwag was earlier ruled out of the ICC World Twenty20 despite being picked in the squad and travelled to England. The Hindu report suggested Sehwag experienced pain after the arthroscopic repair and required substantial analgesia and shoulder Cryo Cuff to ease pain. 

His rehabilitation programme began soon with pendulum exercises and elbow and hand exercises. He has also been advised to do isometric exercises in static position (without moving the shoulder) and to stay in broad arm sling and continue all exercises for four weeks.

Should the initial rehabilitation schedule produce the desired results, Sehwag will be asked to free himself from the sling and begin shoulder strengthening and mobility exercises. He would be monitored by the Indian team physio Nitin Patel right through the rehabilitation programme and at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. 

He is likely to undergo isokinetic shoulder strength evaluation in order to find out if he can throw the ball after 10 weeks of the operation and also return to nets by the first week of September, the report added. 

Dr. Wallace expects the SLAP lesion to heal in six weeks in order to begin shoulder strengthening and mobile exercises. The entire rehabilitation process is aimed at easing pain and for a comfortable and pain-free functioning of the right shoulder. Sehwag may return to action in September, but a tardy recovery may not allow him to play until October.

The rest and rehabilitation process is going to be a slow and steady affair and expected to last till the end of August, raising serious doubts whether he would be match fit for the ICC Champions Trophy commencing September 24 in South Africa.

Sehwag's likely absence in the tournament would certainly be a major blow for India's hopes, especially with signs of him having come to terms with the ebbs and flows of the 50-over game in the last twelve months.

However, the bigger question is how far would the repaired joint hamper Sehwag's carefree style of batting in the immediate future.
It's the right shoulder which would come prominently into action for his pull shots, slashes over third man and his patented whippy shots played off the hip.

Sehwag's idol and role model Sachin Tendulkar had to re-orient his batting style after undergoing shoulder surgery a few years ago under the same surgeon whom he has now consulted, Dr Andrew Wallace.

Millions of his fans would be waiting with bated breath for Sehwag's return to the national side, probably in the seven-match ODI series at home against Australia in October-November after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy.

That series could, perhaps, be a pointer to whether the Delhi marauder can recapture his ability to bat in his patented fashion, especially on the on-side, or would need to reshape his batting style a bit.

SEHWAG WALLPAPERS

SEHWAG  RELAXING

Visit the link below for VIRU's rare images

http://virendersehwag4u.blogspot.com/2010/11/sehwag-photos.html

SEHWAG PHOTOS