Physical trainer Andrew Kokinos initiated the players into the routine of jogging and physical exercises. Little later, Simpson and Gaekwad put them through the grind of fielding.

The players were divided into small groups and were put into the motion of close catches, fielding and throwing in one action and hitting the stumps. Two hours, they were done with it and completely famished.

The Australian Cricket Academy sometime ago had recommended a baseball style throwing technique to protect the shoulders, especially of fast bowlers. Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, who went to the academy, are familiar with it. Simpson may recommend it to the players.

Anshuman Gaekwad said he wanted to introduce such a rigorous routine long ago. ``We had a tight schedule all these months. Today, we had a non-stop session for two and a half hours. The boys just had a few drills of fielding and catching. In fact, there is a book available on fielding and catching. There are about 200 drills and I will put all those into practice one by one,'' he said.

Gaekwad said the players would be put through gymwork and swimming in the evening as the pitches, drenched as it were, are not fit to play. The practice pitches, which lie on the either side of the central square, are on a slope and closer to the boundary. Curator K Parthasarathy said the pitches get wet easily as water from the elevated surface seeps through the cover and make them slushy.

The curator suggested practice on the middle pitches which are on a higher plateau. But the pitches are uncovered and needs plenty of sunshine to prepare and make it practice ready. Till then, the cricketers have to wait, patiently.