John Wright: Today's performance is unacceptable

Zimbabwe are increasingly looking like a team that can perform consistently over a period of time. They are renowned for pulling off the occasional upset, but then consistency is something that they have been working on.

The emphatic six-wicket victory at Kochi goes to prove that they are a side to reckon with. They hold all the aces up their sleeve going into the fourth one-dayer at 2-1, with a good a chance of closing the series out at Hyderabad itself.

After the game, both sides addressed the media. First, it was the turn of a shy 22-year-old youngster from Harare by the name of Douglas Tafadzwa Hondo to address the media. Obviously delighted at his success (4/37) that won him the Man of the Match award, Hondo said, "I just wanted to play well. I tried my best to keep things simple and bowl a good line and length."

When asked about the three weeks he spent at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai under the watchful eyes of the legendary Dennis Lillee, the young fast bowler said, "At the MRF Academy, I tried to fix my action. I have been working with the video (from the Academy) and trying to work on my action."

Hondo found the going very tough in Kochi with the heat and humidity. Obviously he didn't mind the fact that he picked three top-order wickets and bowled his side to victory, but the young fast bowler was more disappointed about the pitch than the sticky weather. "The wicket was flat," he said.

Hondo has a cool head on his shoulders, and this quality will help him and Zimbabwe for many more years to come. When asked about his place in the team, the youngster said, "I have to keep on performing well to be a regular in the side."

Then it was Zimbabwe skipper Stuart Carlisle's turn to talk to the press. Looking pleased by what his team did on the day, Carlisle said, "We took most of our catches today, the guys did very well to put pressure on them." The skipper was quick to commend Hondo on his achievement and went on to add that there was a brief period in the middle of the Indian innings when things looked like slipping away. "Our spinners bowled well and luckily we took the catches."

Carlisle also revealed that the team had a meeting the previous evening. There were separate meetings for the batsmen and the bowlers, where they were reminded about the importance of keeping things simple.

The Zimbabwe skipper thinks that it was a good toss to lose at the end of the day. He was ready to admit that he had made a mistake in his judgement of the pitch the previous evening. He was under the impression that the toss would play a crucial role, and luckily for him it turned out the other way around. He was quick to praise his two senior batsmen, Alistair Campbell and Grant Flower, as well.

Andy Flower is one player on whom Zimbabwe has relied a lot over the years. Carlisle said, "I have been saying it is time that the rest of us started contributing better. Obviously it is a great bonus to have Andy in the team."

On Andy Flower's hip injury and the possibilities of him playing in the remaining one-dayers, the Zimbabwe skipper said that it is up to the physio to decide about Flower's fitness. "He maybe available for the Hyderabad one-dayer, but he certainly will play in the fifth match in Guwahati."

According to Carlilsle, it was the wicket of Sourav Ganguly that was the turning point. "He has been in good form. We knew that we were going to have some luck our way. In the last two matches we have had some close chances against him. I think it is always nice to get the opposition captain out."

Indian skipper Ganguly looked clearly dejected after the loss in Kochi. He said, "It wasn't a bad pitch. We lost too many early wickets and never recovered. We batted badly."

When asked about the injury to a few crucial players, Ganguly said, "We can't help it if they are injured. That is how it goes, you have to play with what you have. It is up to the players to decide if they can go through the pain."

Earlier Carlisle had said that the heat and humidity was a major factor. "It was very tough towards the end, and it looked that the Indians were very tired. Maybe the heat got to them as well." Talking on the same subject, Ganguly said, "We are used to the heat. Last time in Kochi we chased a score of above 300 after being in the field for 50 overs."

Talking about the two remaining matches, Carlisle said, "We just can't go out and relax. We would want to look at it as the fourth game, but to look at it as the next game. We don't want to put ourselves under pressure. Most sides will wilt under pressure. You always get chances; whether you take your chances is what matters."

Ganguly, though, is a worried man and he said, "Both the next games are very crucial. We have to win both the games." Coach John Wright was more candid on the subject; he said, "There is always pressure. If you have to win at this level, you have to do it under pressure." Wright went on to say that it hardly mattered at what point of one's career one was in, and that the prime objective for every cricketer, once picked to play for the country, is to perform well under any given situations.

"You have got to take responsibility under pressure and perform. You must be able to handle pressure. Today's performance is unacceptable," he said.

Wright was quick to add that pressure situations also throw up some positives. "It is a great opportunity (for the players) to play well under pressure and make a name for themselves. That is what we need. Kaif had a good opportunity, and he blew it."

Wright also believes that the youngsters in the Indian team have no excuses to make with regard to playing under pressure. "Look at the young Zimbabwe players," he pointed out. They are perhaps the words of a disenchanted coach trying to deal with a bunch of cricketers who are not willing to pay heed to his advice.

The most interesting comment of the day came from the Indian skipper. When asked about the Indian fielding, after the customary long thought, Ganguly replied, "Our fielding has improved from before."