Ganguly game for bolwing in World Cup

Kolkata, Feb 19 (UNI) Often termed the man with the golden arm Sourav Ganguly is eager to bowl during the world cup in the West Indies if given an opportunity to roll his arm.

Talking to reporters at his academy, a relaxed Ganguly said, ''Of course I would like to bowl. I have bowled a lot in ODIs and I see no reason why I wont like to bowl.'' ''But it depends on Rahul Dravid on how he would utilise me. If he wants me to bowl, I will,'' he said adding that what mattered most was ''what was the need of the hour''.

''If the situation demands me to bowl, I will. I have bowled before in the West Indies,'' Ganguly, who has a habit of breaking partnerships and taking crucial wickets, said.

Asked about the wickets in West Indies, he said, ''They will be competitive for sure. May be not as fast as before, but surely competitive. Countries hosting the Cup want to give something good.'' Asked to differentiate between the Indian side that won the Cup in 1983 and this side setting sail for the Caribbeans on March 1, he said, ''They won the cup. We have not.'' Then he went on to add, ''This is a good side. We need to play well during the Cup. After all each innings is a matter of ten balls.'' On the current form of the team which has won two big series back-to-back at home, he said, ''This is a great thing winning two series back-to-back. But the thing is we need to perform during the four weeks of the world cup. It is that what matters.'' Clad in a buccaneer T-shirt and denim jeans, Ganguly also said he would like to rest for a few days before starting his preparations for the Cup.

''I am not thinking about the Cup now. Its a few days away. Now I want to rest for a few days first,'' he said.

''I want to work on all areas--batting, bowling, fielding.

Concentrate on everything,'' a very focussed Sourav said when quizzed on if he would like to stress on any particular aspect of the game before the Cup.

On whether Australia, the defending champions, would be going into the World Cup with a handicap of having lost two series leading up to the Cup, he said, ''They are always a side to reckon with.

They are a major force and no one will underestimate them.'' UNI BA PC AKP PDS RK1845