|
"We don't have any positive chances, one doesn't want to be negative, but you have to be realistic. They (India) have four of the world's top ten batsmen in their team. If we play them ten times we would probably lose ten times.
"We will rely on our collective strength, everybody in the team has to do their job. If all 11 players do what they have to do, then we can play a decent game," said Lefebvre.
"It is very exciting playing in a tournament like this, against one of the best teams in the world. Most of our guys have never seen Tendulkar live."
Asked how he found the pitch after the game against Boland, the Dutch skipper said he was satisfied.
"It had quite a bit of turn and was not too fast. I was quite pleased with the wicket," he said.
"We're are still trying to find our feet, and getting used to the conditions and heat. We did most of our preparation indoors and ice skating on lakes. We have to get into a match rhythm," Lefebvre explained the reason for the pre-tournament losses.
He added that they would have preferred their first game to be against Namibia against whom they stand a reasonable chance of winning, in contrast to their other matches against India, England, Australia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Holland plays Namibia in their last match on 3 March in Bloemfontein.
Asked if they had any special bowling tactics to keep big-hitters like Tendulkar in check, the captain was quick to respond: "Bowl straight."
Weary Indians
The Indian captain, Saurav Ganguly, was weary of writing the Dutch team off.
"Our loss in the warm-up match against Kwazulu-Natal is a cruel reminder that we should not take any team for granted," Ganguly said on Tuesday.
"We are mentally in good shape, we are a good side that can do well in this tournament," he added.
Ganguly further said that he will do a lot of bowling during the tournament.
The Indians' coach, John Wright, added they are really focussed on the tournament and that the recent unsuccessful tour of New Zealand already felt like a long time ago.
"We have to play according to our strength and focus on setting constructive targets for ourselves."
Ganguly said it was sad news that Shane Warne had to withdraw from the tournament after testing positive for illegal drugs.
"He is a champion of the game and would have been one of the players to watch during the tournament. I don't know what happened though, and it would be unfair for me to comment," Ganguly said on Tuesday after the news broke.
Vinod Kambli, former Indian national, who played for Boland this season, also fended for the Dutch team.
"People say it will be a one-sided match, but I disagree. In the World Cup you don't take any game lightly, you play with full strength," Kambli said.
As for wishing to play in the World Cup himself along with his countrymen, Kambli laughs out loud.
"I want to be there, but I will join them some other time," he says staring forlornly as the Indians practiced in the nets.
In the first couple of overs yesterday, the Dutch showed they meant business, bowling to Tendulkar and Ganguly.
The opening pair of the Indians cautiously faced Lefebvre and Edgar Schiferli's bowling with a runrate of 1,5 runs an over on the scoreboard.
Tendulkar jumpstarted the rate however after two successive fours in the seventh over.
Shortly after though, it was Holland's turn to cheer, when Ganguly was caught behind after a delivery from Lefebvre and the Indian captain was sent packing with just 8 runs to show for it and the scoreboard on 30/1.
Tendulkar went on to score 52 of 72 balls surpassing the record (1083) of former Pakistan batsmen, Javed Miandad's, for the most accumulative runs scored during World Cup matches.
At the time of going to press the score was India were all out for 204 in the 49th over. Tim de Leede was Holland's best bowler with figures of 4/35. |
THE Dutch cricket captain, Roland Lefebvre, said during an interview on Tuesday he liked Indian food, although it should not be too spicy.