* My willow, gentlemen

Sourav Ganguly has ordered bats with new specifications for the tour of South Africa. The Indian skipper airdashed to Meerut earlier this week to meet his batmakers at the Sareen Sports Industries, famous for their 'SS' brand of bats, the Press Trust of India reported on Thursday.

Apparently, Ganguly wanted a few changes made to his bats. The PTI report said that the skipper has been using bats weighing 1225 to 1230 gms in recent times. During his finest days as a batsman, he was using bats weighing 1250 grams.

For our part, we hope the Indian skipper is showing the same attention to detail when it comes to sorting his technique which in the first place is responsible for all his woes. Learning to handle the short stuff will be good for starters. Sadly in Ganguly's case though his poor onside game means that he can't try out a quick-fix solution like opening up his stance, something Mohammad Azharuddin tried with some success in the last tour of South Africa.

* 'Kiri' talk should help

Rookie wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta feels that tips from Syed Kirmani, one of the finest glovemen India has produced, will help him during his debut tour of South Africa.

"I spent quite some time talking to Kirmani recently and it was very encouraging. His tips should stand me in good stead", Dasgupta told the Press Trust of India in Kolkata on Thursday.

"It is a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to the tour. I want to prepare myself mentally for it and talking to great keepers like Kirmani is bound to help", he said.

Dasgupta also plans to have a chat with former Bengal and India wicketkeeper Syed Saba Karim ahead of his first international match.

© CricInfo