This is one place where wishing the Indian team by saying "Break a leg" is strictly forbidden. "Health Check" takes you into the hitherto-unexplored realms of Andrew Leipus and Adrian Le Roux. Keeping weekly tabs on the aches and pains, or hopefully lack thereof, of the Indian team, "Health Check" gives you the complete low-down on the fitness levels of the touring side.

The appointment of Adrian Le Roux

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India's first fitness setback came even before the team for the West Indies had been selected. Virender Sehwag, fielding in a one-day international against Zimbabwe, injured his shoulder and ruled himself out of contention for a Test berth that, in all probability, would have been his for the asking.

The omission is no ordinary one. Besides the century on debut, Sehwag has shown since that he is an attacking player who can change the rhythm of the game with a few lusty strokes. Ashish Nehra echoed the feelings of perhaps the whole team when he said, "He is a great player, and I hope that he is back in the side for the one-dayers."

Sehwag's injury, of course, is only temporary. India have a more permanent plus-point accompanying them to the West Indies in the form of Adrian Le Roux. Appointed fitness coach for the squad, Le Roux has been hired until the end of the World Cup in 2003. Formerly the physical trainer of the Free State squad in South Africa, Le Roux was drafted into the newly created position after a number of injuries to key players that were attributed to poor fitness levels.

Le Roux's first training session in the West Indies included, among other things, a tennis-ball exercise that, according to coach John Wright, would help "to forge a good team unit on and off the field." A billion fans hope very much that Wright is right.

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