Ganguly relishes Lord's return

Sourav Ganguly knows that starting well is important in order to do well © Getty Images

Sourav Ganguly reckons he has never been more clinical mentally than on his Lord’s Test debut in 1996.

The former India captain returns to the home of cricket this week having been through plenty since that stunning hundred in his first innings.

Now 35, it appeared his international days were over last year when he was axed for seven Tests, beginning with the drawn series against England.

But Ganguly won a reprieve and is set for his third Test at Lord’s.

“I have done well here but that does not guarantee success this time,” said Ganguly. “I have to start well and do well.

“The frame of mind I had before the first time I played at Lord’s is probably the best I’ve had in my whole career.

“I’ve not had it again in the last 11 years even though I’ve scored runs all around the world; I wish I could get back to that mindset for this Test match.

“I didn’t have any nervousness, I didn’t have any fear of failure when I came here in 1996.

“It’s the age factor. When you’re young you don’t worry about a lot of things which you start doing once you play a lot and grow older. I was more carefree and enjoyed the full five days of the Test match.”

While Ganguly, who has a passable if modest average of just over 40 in his Test career, has been surpassed in most things by Sachin Tendulkar – but by having his name on the honours board at Lord’s he is one-up on his colleague.

Tendulkar, himself, is keen to rectify that on what is likely to be his last tour of England.