Team India stronger with Ganguly's ''steely resilience'' : Arthur

Belfast, June 29 (UNI) Sourav Ganguly's ''steely resilience'' have come in for special mention from South Africa coach Mickey Arthur, who felt India are a far stronger side whenever the former captain plays for his country.

''I personally think Sourav Ganguly in the squad gives a huge amount back to India,'' Arthur said.

''Sourav still has a presence,'' he asserted.

The Proteas coach said he was bemused by Ganguly's absence from India's one-day international series in South Africa last year.

''I think he's a quality player, and it still mystifies me how he wasn't in the squad in South Africa.

He went to the extent of saying that the success of Rahul Dravid's side are greatly enhanced by the presence of the left-handed opener.

''I think he seems to have given a steely resilience back to India. It's good to see Sourav back - and I think he's enjoying his cricket,'' Arthur added.

He rates India tough and improving opponents for anyone in the world - with one or two reservations.

''(Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh) Dhoni is probably an all-rounder now,'' he acknowledges.

However, he admitted India's lack of all-rounders, saying ''If only they could find a bowler who could also hit it around at the back end.

''They all seem, not rabbits, but they all seem to be tailenders.'' ''But other than that, I think the Indian squad is going to do well. They are a squad full of potential - and it will be interesting to see how the new seam attack goes,'' he pointed out.

Evan as his side is approaching today's second match in the Future Cup series with twin objectives - to build on their 1-0 lead and to give another opportunity to a clutch of emerging players, the Indian team is still grappling to find 11 fit players.

Pacers Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose were rushed in to cover for a squad beset by a flu virus over the past week.

Kallis, who is captaining the side in place of Graeme Smith, has a 100 per cent record so far after leading in five matches and Arthur says the lynchpin batsman and regular vice-captain has taken well to his new responsibilities.

''He has enjoyed it. We've always known he's capable of doing it nicely - and he has brought some experience to it. He brings a calmness to the squad and he's been very impressive so far,'' the coach was quoted as saying by a web portal.

Not forgetting the regular skipper, he said ''Graeme is certainly an unbelievable leader. There is an aura about him, and he has the full backing of everybody,'' he added.

''Jacques knows it [the captaincy] is in a stand-in capacity. But it is nice to have a vice-captain with the amount of experience he has - so that if anything happens to Graeme, Jacques can step up into the fray,'' he added.

UNI