Engineer

Calcutta: Farokh Engineer, one of the first glamour boys of Indian cricket, has had another wicketkeeping-specific session with the current pin-up hero — Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“We tried to keep it a quiet affair… I didn’t want TV cameramen and photographers around… It wasn’t for publicity,” Engineer told The Telegraph on Wednesday evening.

Speaking from his Cheshire residence, he added: “Our interaction took place at Old Trafford in the afternoon… On the field and, later, in the dressing room when I was invited to share home-cooked biryani brought by one of the fans.”

Engineer, who wore the big gloves for India in the Sixties and Seventies, had a few words with Team India’s No.2 ’keeper Dinesh Karthik as well.

His first one-on-one with Dhoni had been in Chelmsford, in the lead-up to the three-Test series which preceded the ongoing ODIs.

“Dhoni has improved from the time he landed in England, but still needs to work on a few things… He’s getting up too soon and is often snatching the ball… One of the basics is that you stay as low for as long as possible…

“Of course, it’s not that Dhoni isn’t aware of what needs to be done. Moreover, he’s such a sincere cricketer… He adds so much value as a batsman that you’ve got to have him in the XI,” Engineer said.

Now senior vice-president of the Lancashire County Cricket Club (the first Indian in that position), Engineer is praying that Rahul Dravid and Co. make it 2-2 on his adopted home ground.

“Look bhai, if we win the toss, we should bat first… I don’t understand this business of giving England first strike… As important, we’ve got to improve our fielding… And do so appreciably.”

Engineer added: “Fielding is one aspect of the game which has definitely changed for the better from my time. However, when I see this team, I can’t but make the point that there were better fielders in my days… Tiger Pataudi, (Ajit) Wadekar, Abid Ali and (the late Eknath) Solkar to name just a few…”

Ironically, the present bunch hasn’t shown any improvement even though Robin Singh has been the fielding coach for four months.