India holds the key to the future

Tony Greig was funny, outspoken and enlightening in a
question and answer session.

Tony Greig's analysis is that India holds the future of the game in the palm of her hands and everything hinges on a willingness to apply the 'spirit of cricket'

I attended the Cowdrey Spirit of Cricket lecture at Lord's on Tuesday. This may seem an anglocentric way to start a World Cricket Forum but the speaker was Tony Greig, an international figure if ever there was one.

Greig was born in South Africa, played for England, settled and worked after the end of his cricketing career in Australia and is often feted in Sri Lanka and India – though after his lecture he may not be feted quite so extravagantly in India as he once was. He is without question a global figure, always provocative and entertaining whether as a player or a commentator on the game.

For Greig this was an emotional homecoming. Here he was, welcomed back to Lord's, the home of an establishment that he had enraged 35 years ago by signing up for Kerry Packer and then recruiting cricketers for the "Circus". It may have helped a little that the president of the MCC, Phillip Hodson, is a good friend of Greig and a brother-in-law. The welcome was genuinely warm.

Actually the lecture format did not suit Greig perfectly. It was almost as if he was shackled by a script, which had taken weeks to chisel out, and he was determined to cover almost every aspect of the modern game. This was highlighted when the evening moved to a Q and A format, hosted by Mark Nicholas, in which Greig was joined by his old mate, Derek Underwood, and the nearest equivalent to Greig that England can currently offer, Stuart Broad, blond, 6ft 6in and a dashing all-rounder with a bit of devil in him. Once the Q and A was under way Greig was at his best: instinctive, mischievous, funny, outspoken and enlightening.
Greig has always been a man of contradictions. He took on the old order, yet last Tuesday he mentioned how much he regretted causing such pain to two very contrasting members of that cricketing establishment, EW Swanton and Alec Bedser. In the Q and A he was extolling the virtues of "walking" to Broad one moment and then explaining amid much hilarity why he could not contemplate walking against the Australians back in the 70s and how he encouraged the English players of that era to follow suit.

He explained that one of his reasons for aligning himself with Packer was to secure the future for himself and his family. Clearly self-interest was a significant factor. Yet here he was beseeching India to put aside self-interest – or at least immediate financial gain – for the greater good of the game.

In simple terms Greig's analysis was this: that India holds the future of the game in the palm of her hands. Everything hinged on India's willingness to apply the "spirit of cricket" and to make some financial sacrifices along the way, a simple analysis but also an alarming one.

So it was all the more striking to read on the day after Greig's lecture that India would not agree to the use of the umpire decision review system in the forthcoming series against England at the end of this year. In the scheme of things it does not matter hugely that India should veto the DRS again. The assumption is that a senior player, such as Sachin Tendulkar, does not like the system partly because it is always used against him. After all, it makes sense for India's opponents to use their reviews against the opposition's best player. But there is something symbolic about India's stance. With all that financial clout, India is more than willing to go her own way on a whole range of topics whatever the majority at the International Cricket Council think.
Less symbolic but far more financially significant was Greig's suggestion that the administrators in India should reduce the duration of the Indian Premier League as part of a package to preserve and protect Test cricket. Even Greig, a natural optimist, was none too sure whether India currently regards Test cricket sufficiently highly that they might be prepared to do that.

It was fun scaring the batsmen: Wasim Akram

Today's fast bowlers have become soft.

Legendary fast bowler. Commentator. Bowling coach and mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders. Wasim Akram needs no introduction. Subash Jayaraman caught up with him and spoke about various aspects of fast bowling among other topics. Excerpts:

I would like to start with your on-field exploits. That dismissal of Rahul Dravid in the 1999 Madras Test - it showed a bowler who knew his craft and had immaculate control. Can you take us through your thought process and the planning behind the dismissal?

The thought process, being a fast bowler, is very simple. Nowadays, they have made it complicated but whenever I speak to the fast bowlers, I tell them it is very simple- you outfox the batsman, you come in running hard and you know what is happening.

The delivery you spoke about - the first two I bowled were in-swing, and Rahul was leg-before. Nowadays, with DRS, he would've been in the dressing room. Obviously, I knew he would be waiting for the in-swing in the third delivery but I aimed leg - the idea was to 'nick or clip the off stump and that delivery did clip the off stump.

Nowadays I hardly see any reverse swing. There is only one swing - right handed bowler brings the ball into the right hander and left handed bowler takes it away from the right hander. They don't bowl both like a reverse-swing artist. For me, in the last 5 years, that has gone. I hardly see anyone do it.

What was most impressive was that the length you bowled, the spot where it pitched, how does a bowler do that time and again?

I tell all the guys I work with in the IPL - Balaji, Shami Ahmed and Brett Lee - that the idea is to bowl at a length that the batsman is uncomfortable playing on either the front foot or the back foot. It should be half-way - somewhere around short of length.

It also depends on the nature of the wicket. If you are playing on a sub-continent track- slightly shorter, if you are playing in Australia- slightly fuller, if you are playing in England- keep it full because the ball seams around. It depends on the conditions and the wicket as well.

Today's young bowlers don't seem to be doing the amount of bowling required to understand the various aspects of fast bowling. On top of this, they play in the IPL for 7 weeks but bowl only 60-70 overs. Isn't this against the philosophy of fast-bowler development?

Nowadays there are too many foreign coaches! In my days - less than 9 years ago - it was fairly simple. I learnt from Imran and Miandad that the fast bowling muscles will only work when you bowl in nets. The gym training is good for individual muscles, maybe to look good, but if you look good and don't bowl well, there is no point in being a fast bowler, or being a bowler at all.

Foreign coaches have come in and done something very odd. Bowlers only bowl two or three overs, and then rest. For young bowlers from the sub-continent, to get paid you need to bowl as much as possible and not rest. That's the psychology we come from. Look at your own Kapil Dev. He bowled in 125 test matches as a fast bowler. Name me any Indian, Pakistani or a Sri Lankan fast bowler who can play 100 Test matches. There is none. India had Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, R.P. Singh- they came, were good for some time, and then they were gone. Irfan Pathan is there, he is bowling well, but is not what he was three years ago. One has to see why this is happening. These guys need role models, they have to have consistent eyes on them to see what they do on and off the field as well.

As a bowling coach, how do you guide your bowlers to build an over? Every single delivery should be a means to an end.

I tell them first to read a batsman and start with the view that he is going to have a go at you. After any dot ball, he wants to have a go at you. Be sensible, bowl middle-leg and have fine-leg back. Give a single away to attack the new batsman.

What I tell my bowlers in the Kolkata Knight Riders is to read the batsmen, and to concentrate on the first & last deliveries (of the over). If you get hit on the first ball, your whole over will be gone. And, if you bowl a beautiful over, 2 or 4 runs in the over, and you don't concentrate in the last ball and give away a six, it can become a 10 run over. These little details and field settings. If you are bowling Yorkers, your extra-cover will be straighter, your mid-off and mid-on will be straighter as well. I tell them to set these things.

The modern day bowler doesn't seem to have a back up plan. They come with plan-A, and if things don't work they are taken to the cleaners...

It is a culture that the fast bowlers have become a bit soft, I feel. One of the bowlers I love to watch, the way he bowls and runs in, is Dale Steyn. If any young bowler has to follow somebody, it must be Dale Steyn. Look at the way he runs every time he bowls. 100% effort. And that is how you become a great bowler. You can't just pick and choose - "I'm not going to come and bang in this over. I'll come and bowl in the next-over." There is no next-over. The game will be over by then.

When you were playing for Pakistan, what was the effect of having Waqar Younis at the other end? You may not always have seen eye-to-eye at all times, but you made it work..

Yes, we did! That was an honour. He was the best bowler I've ever played with, and against at times in county. He was a sight to watch. One of the quickest bowlers, reverse swings both ways, and used to sprint in every ball with a long run-up. It seemed like for 2 years Shoaib Akhtar bowled fast, but then he has disappeared and nobody takes his name now. But, Waqar Younis is a legend and one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. And we had fun against every batting- against India, against England and we thrashed them in their country. That was fun, it really was. It was fun scaring the batsmen!

How does it work within the team atmosphere? Two really great players that may not get along personally, but made it to work professionally..

The idea was - whatever happens off the field stays off the field. On the field, you are playing for the country. It was a matter of pride, and you want to win. We have to see each other faces in the field in the morning. Whatever happens off the field, stays off the field, we are not taking them to the ground.

The more things change, the more they stay the same with Pakistani cricket. One step forward, two steps back. If you were in an official capacity to influence Pakistani cricket, what would be some of the steps that you would take right from the word go?

I will have a regular captain. There is no point having two captains, because in our culture we can't follow even one leader. What is the point of having two leaders, two captains, or three captains? That actually is a good enough answer. So, first of all, have one leader, and support him for one year. It doesn't matter if he wins or loses, just support the captain. The players should know that the cricket board has provided the backing to this captain and he is not going away.

We have the talent, but we need to channel that talent. I was just seeing the scorecard of the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had scored 472 and Pakistan were 100 all out. If Pakistani batsman can't play spin, I don't know what they can play! It is all a mental block. You have to give them some confidence, you have to give them some education on and off the field.

The problem I have with this Pakistani boys is that, they are all a very good bunch of guys, but they don't socialize. They don't go and meet different people. They just stay in their rooms. When I played for Lancashire, we used to go out. When we played Australia, we would hang out after the game. Nowadays, they don't. Their confidence levels are very, very low.

Last question. Pakistani fans want to know why you haven't become the bowling coach for the Pakistani cricket team. Indian fans want to know why you haven't become the bowling coach for the Indian cricket team. Will you be coaching in the future?

My answer is- I want to live happily ever after. I'm fine with what I am. Pakistan Cricket Board has to ask me to come and be the bowling coach. I'm not going to their door and say "Sir, I'm here, please take me as a coach." I'm not going to do that. They haven't offered me a job as a coach in the last 3-4 years, since I retired. That's the answer for the Pakistanis.

As for becoming India's bowling coach, I don't have to become their bowling coach. I'm helping them without being a coach, because I meet them during the IPL. They all come up to me. They are all good boys, all the Indian young bowlers. And, I'm giving all the help I can to them. And also the Pakistani bowlers, whenever I meet them. They come up to me, and I am always available to them.

Interviews 'Never thought I was the Wall'

The saddest bit about Rahul Dravid's retirement is that they don't make batsmen like him anymore. He belonged to a different era, of a type which the cricket academies no longer churn out. He is the last of the classical batsmen, correct and stylish. Unlike the power game of the current generation, concentration was the key to Dravid's game. There may be more celebrated batsmen and successful captains, but when it came to being a team-man, no one could match him. Ask him to open on a green top, keep wickets to lend balance to the side, Dravid was always up for it. As he declared his international innings closed on Friday, his thoughts on retirement:
What prompted this decision?
I had a glorious run and felt it was time to move on for the next generation of India cricketers to take the team forward. When you leave something like playing for India - a life that I have lived for close to 16 years, and five years before that of first-class cricket, it is tough. But it also wasn't a difficult decision because I knew deep down that the time was right.
Any achievement which could have left you more satisfied?
If you play for 16 years, there are going to be times when you have to face incredible highs and disappointing lows. At the end of the day, there is satisfaction that even though I might have failed to achieving certain things, I left no stone unturned to try and become the best cricketer I could ever become.
Did the Oz tour debacle impact your decision?
I don't follow every word that is written. But I know that you get criticised when you don't do well. I was sure that after the Australia tour, I would sit down and look at a lot of things. Now it is easy to say but I would like to think that I would have come to the same conclusion.
How long did it take to arrive at the decision? Did you speak to Sachin Tendulkar?
For a year now, after each series, I have assessed the situation where I was and this was no different. I came back from Australia and I wanted to take the emotion out of it and spend a month at home and think dispassionately. I came to this decision and knew I was clear in my mind. I have spoken to Sachin and a lot of my team-mates. Everyone was supportive.
Playing with legends
It was a honour to play alongside a galaxy of stars and legends, whether it was Sachin, Anil, Sourav, Srinath, Laxman, Sehwag and Harbhajan. I was fortunate to have played in an era which was successful for Indian cricket. Some of the guys I played with, my sons will not understand, but if they go on to follow the game, they will realise that I played with some of the great players and what they mean to India cricket.
The timing of the decision… after a poor series in Australia?
Of course, it would have been nice to do well and contribute in the last series. Such decisions are based on a lot of other things and not on one series.
Any particular moment in the series which sparked the decision?
I don't think there was a Eureka moment for me. For me, it has come after a lot of contemplation, with friends and family. As you play international cricket and see greats retire, you know that this will come to everyone.
Did dropped catches of late influence the decision?
It didn't influence the decision. But over the last year, I have dropped two or three catches which I could have taken. People who have played with me will tell you that nothing frustrates me more than dropping a catch. I can get over getting out after 15-20 minutes but when I drop a catch, it stays with me for a very long time.
There must have been the temptation to play one more Test and wave goodbye in front of home fans?
I have been part of some nice farewells but I've made a decision now. Just to keep playing for the sake of one Test, I don't think it was right.
What does the sobriquet 'Wall' mean to you?
I never took it seriously. When people called me the 'Wall' I joked that they were setting up me because if I failed, it was easier for them to say there was a chink in the 'Wall'. A lot of people call me that fondly and I respect that. But I never thought I was a 'Wall' when I walked out to the middle.
Where do you see Indian cricket heading in Tests. Do you see anybody coming close to you?
We are disappointed that we didn't do well in England and Australia. Having said so, I feel Indian cricket is in a good place. There is exciting talent coming through. As to who will replace me, in the last two years I have felt, there have been talented batsmen waiting in the wings who can take over. When I look back at myself as a 23-year-old and look at the present players, I know I was nowhere near as talented as these kids. Obviously, being talented does not necessarily mean that you'll have a successful Test career. There are lot of things that go with it - how you face the challenges and how you deal with things which are sometime internal more than external.
It will be interesting to watch some of these young talents as they establish themselves over the next two or three years. I hope two or three of them can establish themselves and play for India for a long time. If you have people coming in and out all the time, it means they are not performing well enough. This breeds instability.

'It's been a test of character'

Sachin Tendulkar's day was unceremoniously snatched away by Bangladesh in the Asia Cup match on Friday. Tendulkar watched from the dressing room as Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim slowly took the match away from India, beating the world champions by five wickets.

Away from home, reaching a milestone that eluded him for more than a year left Tendulkar dazed. But in the end his knock was not good enough to help India win.
"I have mixed feelings (about the milestone) because I thought 290 was a good target. Till the last three overs, when they needed 33 runs, I thought we were in control. But they played some exceptional shots," said Tendulkar.
On his long wait to reach the milestone, he said, "It was a tough journey...Now that it is out of the way, things can come back to normal."
Excerpts from the press conference:
On the 100 tons
I am not god. After scoring 99 centuries, I needed a year to score another. It shows scoring a hundred from 99 is tough. It has been a huge learning process.
On playing for milestones
I don't play for milestones... There are ups and downs... I don't think I feel any more human after this. I always knew I was human and people are allowed to make mistakes and learn from them.
On the long wait 100th ton
It has been a test of my character and patience. Somebody who has not gone through this will not understand. But all this has made me a better player. It has been really challenging and I have learnt from my mistakes.
On retirement

I will tell you when I decide on that. Everyone will know. I want to play as long as I am enjoying and contributing to the team.

Wish I had someone to guide me: Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar was supposed to wake up in the afternoon on Saturday. India had played and lost their Asia Cup match to Bangladesh in a day-night match on Friday and face Pakistan in a do-or-die battle on Sunday. But sticking to his word that he would speak to the posse of Indian media after he got to his milestone, Tendulkar was downstairs right on time. Just a cup of coffee without sugar was surely not enough to help him overcome the mental fatigue after achieving a personal milestone that might never be emulated.

Excerpts from that interaction...
Is this wait compared with (Roger) Federer's wait for French Open?
I don't know obviously what Federer had gone through but I am sure it was tough. I would not compare the 100th 100 with the French Open, rather it would be the World Cup. I had to wait 22 years, and that wait was much longer. It is all about belief, I knew it will come but it is as important that you don't take things for granted and keep working the way you usually do.
There is one thing I can put my hand up and say, that I am 100% sure it is due to my effort and commitment. If these were lacking then there would have been a question mark but in those areas, in my book, I scored a 100 out of 100. Scoring runs and not scoring runs will always be a part of a career, and you can experience that when you have played long enough. I was pretty confident about what I was doing and the technique was right and I had the right people around me and I want to thank them.
Anticipation and pressure...
The anticipation and disappointment on not getting this hundred was way too greater than anything else. I don't know how to explain to you. I wish there was someone to guide me, about how to deal with this. I am not complaining, but it happened for the first time. It has been a tough journey. My family and friends stood right behind me.
Your top five hundreds…

Perth I would say (114 in 1992). Something that means a lot to me is the hundred at Chennai (against England) in 2009. That was really, really important to me because of what had happened before that. Yes, the first 100 (at Manchester 119 not out in 1990), Chennai (136 against Pakistan 1999), and Sydney when I scored 241* (in 2004)
The double ton against Bangladesh?
Possibly the funniest incident of my life, took place in that match. I was batting with Anil (Kumble) and while taking a run and passing him, I told him ‘keep an eye out for the second run’. And, while taking the second I saw that the throw was good and I stopped and Anil ran. But the keeper missed and I returned to my crease but because I was going for the second run, Anil kept running and actually twice we ran in the same direction and three times we were about to get out but we did not, and we had a good laugh.
Rahul Dravid spoke of the role the physios and masseurs play...
Absolutely, without the physio and masseur life would be difficult, really difficult. I'd like to thank all of them who helped me when I was in desperate need. There are a lot of things which happen outside the field, and that helps you prepare for the match. Whatever happens behind the scenes is never discussed, but they are equally a part of my success.
A knock through tremendous pain?
I have played a lot of innings like that. A specific innings that comes to mind is when I got that double century (against South Africa) at Gwalior. I remember before that game I was lying on the physio's table, getting various treatments and my whole body was in trouble.

All we were discussing was that let us win the series, and then I am going to request the BCCI for a break from the third match because I am completely exhausted, I couldn't even stand on the field. I was that exhausted physically and mentally.
To deal with injuries is not easy, and at my age it becomes even more difficult. That was the case even before I played that game. But I went to the ground and forgot all about that. When you are focused, you are willing to find a path and reach a destination of winning that match. Then after the game I was asked ‘do you remember what you had said before the match?’ It happens to everyone and sometimes you go through that more than others.
On his children Arjun and Sara…
It's important they lead a normal childhood and not get surrounded by the media all the time. It’s alright to get that when Arjun is matured enough. But right now, he is madly in love with cricket and with all this attention and pressure it shouldn't be that he starts hating all this.