There are many who are saying that Shane Warne is crawling to a world record when he should have been there in a canter. The 35-year-old bowler is just one shy of equalling Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan's mark of 532 Test wickets.
Some are also saying that the leg-spinner doesn't flight the ball as much as he used to. However, the leg-spinner reveals that it's all part of a deliberate ploy.
"Our fast bowlers have executed their plan superbly in Bangalore [the first Test against India]. By the time I came on to bowl they [India] were three down and that gave me an opportunity to try a few different things. The Indian batsmen don't play fast bowlers as well as they play the spinners. My role here is a bit different from anywhere else in the world. My job is not to get five or six-wicket hauls. My game plan is keep things tight at one end and come up with a crucial wicket or two," the 35-year-old leg spinner said on Tuesday.
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But that does not mean he will give up attacking the batsmen. Terry Jenner, his former coach, has said that the leg spinner needs to slow down in an attempt to regain the flight and drift which were the hallmarks of his bowling.
"If the fast bowlers don't get early wickets, I will then try a few variations like maybe, flight the ball a bit more. That is the game plan we are working on. As the wickets get slower I try to bowl faster so that I can get some zip off the wicket," said Warne in his defence.
Adam Gilchrist is, however, more than happy with the form of his star bowler.
"In both innings he got [VVS] Laxman, who is the most dangerous player against us. If he gets only eight wickets in the whole series and they are all Laxman then I am game for it," said the Aussie captain.
The Bangalore Test victory has given the Aussies a huge advantage as far as the series is concerned. It also boosted Warne's confidence.
"Obviously, the ultimate goal is to win the series. We executed our plans well in the first Test at Bangalore and we played a lot differently from the way a lot of people expected us to play," said Warne, adding "474 was a good first innings total and it helped us to put the Indians under the pressure by trying out a few things."
Despite being at the receiving end, Warne felt he bowled reasonable well in the first Test.
"In the second innings I got a bit impatient and was slogged around a bit, but I created quite a few half chances. My last four or five overs were disappointing, but other than that I did okay," he said.
The Chennai wicket is not very different from the one at Bangalore, but Warne feels the toss will again be important as the ball will turn a long way and, initially, it will have good bounce.
"I have played here before and it turns a lot quicker. Bangalore was a slow pitch," he said.
A victory in India will be cherished by Warne almost as much as the world record, simply because he has been playing for 14-15 years now and has won in all countries but India.
"We have beaten everyone, home and away. We would love to go up 2-0 in the series with two to go. And you can expect to see some weird fielding positions in the Test. It's something that we have talked about. It's good to finish a career with Test victories everywhere."
Chennai, however, does not hold many good memories for the leg-spinner. The last time, in 2001, India won -- only just -- by two wickets, with just under 29 overs to spare, and went on to wrap up the series 2-1. Now wiser, he's hoping to make amends.
"I have very bad memories of Chennai. I was whacked in 1998 and didn't do too well in 2001. But this time round I am looking to make amends with the ball and have a slog down the order. But I am bowling better than I was in 2001. It was a fascinating series and, hopefully, things will go our way this time around."
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