You have finally decided you want to bat in the middle order. When and why did you tell yourself you didn't want to open any more?
I was dropped from the squad after the Test against South Africa in Bombay last year. I had opened for India in that Test. I read articles after that, which questioned my ability. Here I was trying my best and compromising my rightful place in the batting order for the benefit of the team, and questions were being raised about my ability. I was still being branded as a makeshift opener. I realized that it is best to just pursue what you are best at, and I decided that I wanted to bat in the middle-order from here on, whatever the odds.
I am basically a stroke player, which is my strength. If I am allowed to settle down, then I can play my natural game. I looked at myself and realized that I wasn’t playing my natural game. I analyzed myself and started playing the way I knew best.
Another point I'd like to make is that I haven't done too bad a job as an opener. I have a century and four fifties as an opening bat. I took it up as a challenge when I was asked to open the innings.
What is it about opening the innings that you are uncomfortable about?
You need to have a different temperament. The wicket is fresh, so are the bowlers with the new cherry. The emphasis is on staying at the wicket, to be cautious because it is imperative that you get a good start. It calls for a completely different mindset. In the middle order, you can play your natural game right from the start. You can stay cool and get started right away.
Thinking back on the tour of Australia, where did you fail as a batsman?
The Aussie tour was a good one for me as a batsman. I was going into the tour in good form. I was connecting right in the middle of the wood, had big scores behind me in domestic circuit. I was very confident when we set out for the tour. I played well in the tour opener against Queensland in Brisbane. I got a century in the first innings and stayed out there in the middle for almost six hours combined in both the innings. I batted well in the first innings of the Adelaide Test and got a 41 but then just gave it away when I looked good for a biggie.
From then on things just didn’t look up till the Sydney Test.
Re-live the Sydney magic -- what prompted that innings of 167? Was it the fact that you were already dropped for the one-dayers and that it was to be your last hurrah in Australia for that particular series?
No, I didn’t play that way because I was dropped from the one-day squad. The conditions at Sydney just helped me a lot. It was overcast and the wicket was damp. I hung in there for over two hours in the first innings and though I got only seven runs I felt good about my stay in the middle. I was facing top class bowling and runs weren’t coming easy.
The key to succeed in Australia is to first settle down, after that you can play your strokes with ease.
I would have to admit that my innings of 167 had a dash of luck in it too. At 54, I was dismissed off a no ball.
I would rank this innings as the topmost of my career ever. It was my first Test century, and it was a dream that it was against the Aussies on their soil, a dream to score a hundred against Australia.
The only other innings that came close was my debut innings where I scored a fifty against the South Africans in Ahmedabad in the first Test. I treasure that innings a lot because it came a crucial time, with the help of useful partnerships. I occupied the crease for a long time. Their spinners, Pat Symcox and Paul Adams bowled very well.
You look likely to bat at number six, which means you could be there when the second new ball is taken. So how different is it, facing the second new ball than facing the first?
It is an interesting argument. But the fact remains that I always started off as a number six batsman. It is all in the mind really. Facing the second new ball... well, firstly when the second new ball is taken the bowlers aren’t as fresh. That factor weighs a lot on your mind. And anyway if after 80 overs I’m coming in to bat, it means that the top-order has done its job and the total is around 260-270 plus. That helps a lot.
Analyse the Aussies. How does one stop the Aussie march?
They are a very tough unit, highly confident. This will be a very tough series for them, though. I think the key to stop them from winning is to post good totals, which will bring them under pressure. They haven't been under pressure in a long time. They are aggressive players, always on the offensive. In the last series in ’98 we posted big scores and they cracked. All said and done this will be a tough series for them.
What changes have John Wright and Andrew Leipus brought to the team?
John is highly effective as a coach. He is a method coach, who studies a lot about the players. We have very fruitful discussions along with video sessions. His involvement is sometimes overwhelmingly infectious. If we can inculcate his methods we can win. He works really hard on the mental aspect.
Leipus has been fantastic for the team. He is so knowledgeable that trusting him comes easy to everyone in the team. His fitness routines are always interesting and the way he mixes them up with games is superb.
Earlier interview:
'I blame myself for being dropped, I wasn't consistent'
Interviews
Mail Cricket Editor
