Cricket: India must dump out-of-sorts Ganguly says Crowe

Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe believes Sourav Ganguly should be sacked as Indian skipper after the tourists' poor display in the second one-day international in Napier.

Crowe, New Zealand's greatest test run-scorer who led his country in 16 tests, said Ganguly's attitude was a big contributor to the team's woes as they sought an elusive first win of their tour.

India's performance in the 35-run loss on Sunday was shoddy - Virender Sehwag's century aside - and Crowe labelled Ganguly as the main offender.

"It was criminal that India failed to bowl their 50 overs on time and were docked two overs when they batted. That lapse was a poor reflection on Sourav Ganguly, who, as a captain, looked out of sorts on the field, as he did with the bat," Crowe wrote on the Wisden website.

"He fielded badly, set a poor example and his body language spelled defeat. His batting lasted three balls, he shuffled once or twice, poked his bat out and dragged a ball onto his stumps.

"In press conferences, his voice now lacks strength and he looks like a man who believes he cannot win."

Crowe, now in charge of Sky television's cricket coverage, said he had always believed Sachin Tendulkar should lead India. The master batsman is set to return for tomorrow's third ODI in Christchurch after missing the first two games with an ankle sprain.

"Tendulkar is a great thinker, has the best cricketing brain and his taking over would give Ganguly a chance to sort out some problems.

"It's worrying from an Indian point of view that Ganguly has got into such a dispirited mode. This is not the way to lead a young side and definitely not any side that needs direction with the World Cup around the corner."

Crowe said Ganguly should be given the chance to play just as a batsman in search of some form.

Crowe also questioned Rahul Dravid's role as one-day wicketkeeper after his "woeful" display on Sunday when he missed a catch, a stumping and let through nine byes.

"Dravid must be sent up the batting order - ideally at No 3 - and whether he can handle that responsibility and wicketkeeping is for the Indian team management to sort out before the World Cup."

Crowe described India's fielding in Napier as "perhaps the worst seen in New Zealand by a touring side", adding that it cost them 25 to 30 runs.

- NZPA