Oh Lord(s)! Please take me back 11 years : Ganguly

London, July 18 (UNI) Eleven years after his Lord's Test debut in 1996, former skipper Sourav Ganguly says he has never had the same postive mindset in his entire playing career inspite of amassing runs all over the world.

''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,'' Ganguly revealed.

Hoping for a repeat performance at the Mecca of cricket, he says ''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.'' Ganguly, fondly called 'Dada', also admits to being a little nervous this time around. ''I didn't have any nervousness, I didn't have any fear of failure when I came here in 1996,'' he told PA Sports.

The former captain returns to the home of cricket for one last time this week having been through plenty since that stunning hundred (131) 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 just when critics started writing his obituaries, the 'Bengal Tiger' made the mother of all comebacks on India's Tour of South Africa before the World Cup in the Caribbeans.

Notwithstanding his enviable record, Ganguly, who will play his third Test at Lords starting tomorrow, says ''I have done well here but that does not guarantee success this time. I have to start well and do well.'' Admitting that age has caught up with the body, he adds ''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.'' The 'Prince of Kolkata' scored back-to-back centuries in his debut Test at Lords as well as the next match during the 1996 Tour.

Ganguly is only the third cricketer ever to score a century on debut at Lord's, after Harry Graham and John Hampshire (Andrew Strauss has also since accomplished the feat).

He has also drawn considerable attention at Lords after his infamous shirt take-off to celebrate India's winning moment during the final match of the 2002 Natwest Trophy.

UNI