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Life's a crock

The ironies of Vinod Kambli's cricketing career continue.

The southpaw has submitted his un-fitness report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, indicating that he is still not ready for national duty.

Talking to Rediff On The Net from his Pune residence, Vinod said that he is still recuperating from the damage he did to his ankle when he come on as substitute, earlier this year.

"My local doctor, Sarangapani, had recommended that I go to London and meet the former England physio, Dr Bernard Thomas," said Vinod. "So I'd been there with my wife, Noella, it was as good as a vacation."

Kambli, ironically, had got injured just when he had managed to force his way back into the Indian squad on the basis of a very strong domestic season.

Earlier, in the aftermath of the 1996 World Cup, he found himself dumped for 'behavioural problems'. Determined to come back, Kambli scored heavily on the domestic circuit, forced himself into contention yet again, and just when he looked like he would turn back the clock, he crocked his ankle.

"When I am fit again, I will play all the local games, make runs on the domestic circuit and force my way back into the national squad," says Kambli. "India is going to be playing a lot of one-dayers, and I am looking forward to playing in them".

Asked about the nature of his injury, Kambli said he had dislocated his ankle sliding to make a stop. Though the ankle was now back in place, the torn ligaments were yet to heal fully, he said.

Kambli, in fact, returned to the nets today, for the first time after his injury, and said it felt good to be back in business.

"I was one of the highest scorers this season," he said when asked about his form.

An understatement, actually -- in eight matches (10 innings) in the last completed Ranji Trophy, Kambli scored 880 runs, including three centuries and a highest of 232 not out, averaging a whopping 125.71.

Given his limited mobility, Vinod meanwhile had a gym constructed in his Pune home, and has been keeping himself occupied with upper body exercises.

He's also been watching a lot of cricket, both on tape and live, in a bid to keep abreast of the game he loves and wants to get back into playing at the highest level, the sooner the better.