Wicketkeeper Ratra ready to go to South Africa

Wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra is "mentally and physically ready" to fly out to South Africa in case of an SOS from the touring Indian cricket team.

"If and when I get a call, I am ready both mentally and physically to play on the hard and bouncy South African pitches," said Ratra, who has already sent his passport to the South African embassy for a visa.

Ratra was put on standby by India's cricket selectors after wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe, who was especially flown out for the three-Test series, pulled out of the first game minutes before it started at Bloemfontein on November 3 due to back spasms.

Debutant Deep Dasgupta, who had kept wickets for the limited overs series that preceded the Tests, was drafted to replace Dighe. India lost the Test by nine wickets. While Dighe is returning home, his place in the side is a tossup between Dasgupta and Ratra. The second Test begins at Port Elizabeth on November 16.

Although the team management has so far not sought a replacement for Dighe, the selectors have asked 19-year-old Ratra to standby in case there is an SOS.

Ratra, who is representing Haryana in the ongoing domestic Ranji Trophy tournament, is pursuing a rigorous training schedule. His daily routine includes workouts in the morning and wicket keeping and batting practice on cemented and turf pitches in the evening at the Nahar Singh Stadium, a stone's throw from his home in Faridabad.

"I am batting against synthetic balls on the cement pitch to get used to the bouncy South African tracks that I might have to play on," he said. "Also, I have asked the bowlers to bowl from 20 yards instead of the normal 22 so that I get accustomed to the real fast pace," he said.

Ratra's morning schedule includes weight training on alternate days, and endurance running and speed work thrice a week. He is one of the few cricketers who realises the benefits of yoga, which he practices twice a week.

"Yoga helps in improving concentration and it relaxes you physically and mentally," he said. "In all, I am putting in about seven hours of practice every day, under the supervision of Sarkar Talwar."

Ratra has, in fact, polished his skills under Talwar, a former Haryana captain and off-spinner of repute. Talwar, many players say, deserves much of the credit for Ratra's rapid rise as a versatile stumper as he has virtually seen the youngster grow under his wings.

That the selectors are seriously considering giving Ratra his first national cap was evident when they picked him in the Rest of India XI that played against last year's Ranji winners Baroda in the season-opener Irani Trophy tie last month. The Rest of India team is a virtual second string national team.

Ratra has benefited much from his stint at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, where former Test wicketkeepers Syed Kirmani and Kiran More and Australian Rodney Marsh gave him vital tips earlier this year.

Ian Healy of Australia, however, remains the idol of Ratra, who made his first-class debut during the 1998-99 season and is now a regular in Haryana's Ranji Trophy team.

Although Ratra acknowledges the huge gap between first-class and Test cricket, he is looking forward to playing in South Africa, considered one of the toughest countries to tour because of its fast and bouncy pitches. "Obviously, I am looking forward to the call, but it does not affect my daily practice one bit," he said.

India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage

--Indo-Asian News Service

Mail Cricket Editor