'Indians On The Right Track'

Describing the Indian cricketers as "unbelievably talented", newly-appointed physical trainerGregory Allen King expressed confidence that he would succeed in minimising injury worries of the players.

"In any game, injuries will happen and they cannot be eradicated. But a trainer's job is to minimise them as much aspossible, which I am sure of doing," King, who was appointed by the BCCI onFriday, said in Chennai.

King, who is here with coach John Wright to attend a three-day coaching seminar being conducted by MRF, said hismain job was to carry forward the work of his predecessor, fellow South African Adrian Le Roux, from whom he had alreadygathered all relevant information about the requirement of the Indian players.

"I have had a long discussion with Roux who shared with me his experience with the Indian players. Wright has alsobriefed me on what needs to be done," he said.

"My discussion with Le Roux reveal that the Indian team is on the right track. Therefore, I have to keep it going andtry to improve the fitness levels of the players."

King, whose appointment came in the wake of the sudden decision of Le Roux to resign and take up a similar positionwith the South African national team, said he was aware of the huge expectations from him and realised that the game wasalmost a religion in India.

"The game is a religion in India and the players are a unbelievably talented bunch, next only to the Australian side.I am happy with the assignment and I want to carry onfrom where Le Roux left," he said. 

King said he was yet to formulate his own plan for the Indian cricketers and was currently in the process of gathering more information on the team. He will join team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus for a three-day conference forphysical trainers and physiotherapists being conducted by the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore next month.

"It is a bit too early to say what I plan to do. After all, I have been appointed only yesterday and would take upthe assignment in August.

"I have not started my own research on the Indian players. I will be spending about three days with Andrew inBangalore at the National Cricket Academy. It is important to learn from people who are already handling the players," hesaid.

King, a post-graduate in Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, was a fitness trainer and sports scientist with the BorderCricket Board in South Africa since 1998. He has also worked as the fielding coach, fast bowler conditioning specialist andrehabilitation specialist.

He played cricket for the South African Universities and the East London provincial team from 1996-98 before taking upthe job of a full-time trainer.

"There was no trainer in the team I was playing for. The coach of the team was looking for a trainer. I undertook ashort course and then I stopped playing cricket and became a trainer for the team," he said.

"It is not essential for a trainer to have played cricket himself but it certainly helps. At the same time, it is not avery important thing," he said.

PTI