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The Rediff Cricket Interview/ T Kumaran

'In Australia I learnt about attitude'

What is it about Robin's shoe?

No, it is lucky. When he got selected I used to go and bowl to him in the morning and evening. He practices very regularly and very seriously. I and another guy would bowl to him. So he gave his bats, gloves, T-shirts to the other fellow. I was sitting there and he asked me what I wanted. I asked him if I could have a pair of shoes. So when he went to South Africa, he didn't forget; he got me a pair of Reebok shoes. I used them and got a lot of wickets. I didn't use it for practice.

What were you using before that?

Shoes I got from my friend. They go to England. That year I didn't have any shoes because my friends didn't go to England. So I had to have a pair of shoes. Getting something from an Indian player is something different. It was really inspiring. They really help me a lot. My friends, teammates, we stick together. The Tamil Nadu team really sticks together, helping each other out. Because most of the year you are with them. You play cricket, you travel you are with them. After that I got wickets in the next game I played against Uttar Pradesh. It was a Super League match and I got five wickets. We played against Delhi and something happened and we got banned. That year I didn't get to do much. That year, after getting five wickets, Robin gave me one more pair of shoes. I just asked him. He said, 'Okay, I will give you one.' Once you asked him he wouldn't forget. The next day, the first thing he gave me the shoes.

The next year started very badly for me. Against Hyderabad I got two wickets; then against Karnataka in the second game I got four wickets. Then against Kerela I got four and three, then against Andhra I got four. I didn't get any five-wicket hauls. Even in league games, I didn't get five's at all. I got four-three-four-three. Then I joined MRF.

So you were first in the Ranji Trophy team and then you joined MRF?

After my second year I also got four wickets against Madhya Pradesh in the Wills Trophy. That also helped me. Two five's and one four in the Wills Trophy. I went to MRF when I was 16. Then after this thing they saw me again. They took a close look again (Lillee and Shekhar). Then they selected me for this foundation. Then I started going there for practice and all those things. It is a very scientific thing because they got a tie-up with the Australian Institute of Sports and Cricket Academy. They do all this stuff and have a good physio. He has been to Australia with MRF. They took him to Australia. He provides heavy, heavy training. You won't believe what all we do. It is very difficult, actually. Being in Madras in that heat, and that too in summer. That is off-season. Our season gets over by April. We start by May. We start with heavy training. In the morning warm- up will be five rounds. Then after that we do endurance; means we have to run ten to twelve rounds.

We are divided into two groups. One will have endurance training, one will have agility. Speed drills will be there. We will be given fifty sprints. Different kinds of sprints. Totally it will come to 45-50 sprints. Then we have agility. That is for your legs; to strengthen your legs, hamstrings. Everything will be heavy. After that we will train in the gymnasium. Not the same day. Three days we have gymnasium training and three days we have practice. Three days in the morning we have yoga.

Who referred you to MRF?

It's not referring; they know me because I have been playing in Tamil Nadu for quite a long time. They have seen me from under-16. From then on they know me, but it's better after my performance in the Ranji Trophy. The minimum qualification is playing for the under-19 state team, where I didn't get to perform because we lost all the games in rain.

In the under-22 stage, they didn't care much. But after performing in the Ranji Trophy they were serious about me.

So how was it with Lillee?

It was a great experience. They, the Aussies, are very positive, really positive. It's the way they talk. It gives you a lot of inspiration.

How did your attitude change after you met Lillee? What kind of bowler were you before you met Lillee?

It's like I just used to keep bowling on line. I like to swing also. Lillee told us that we have to see the batsman, what he does, and place your fields according to that. He said: 'You have to think a batsman out. You should not be a bowler who bowls 20-30 and gets wickets. You should be demolishing. You should demolish a side. Being a fast bowler you should run through the side.' That is his attitude. That's a god thing. I used to get wickets but I used to bowl 25 overs. But sometimes you have to.

You can't get wickets with 10 or 15 overs all the time. But at times you have to do it. That's what he says. When you go out you should be positive. Not over confident but positive. Then only you will bowl well.

Then he says you should think a batsman out, see what he plays; where he is not comfortable, give a bouncer. He says you should use the short pitched delivery. There (in Australia) you can use it but not in India. But that's where he played. He said you should just keep mixing you deliveries.

Everybody said Lillee bowls a superb legcutter. So I went and asked him. He taught me actually how to hold the ball; how to release it; what is the idea behind it. It is basically a grip. He says practice is a place where you can perfect your technique. You don't worry about bowling wides, hitting.

What did you learn in Australia, despite the fact that you didn’t get to play in the Tests?

I learnt a lot. In Australia I learnt about attitude. The attitude of the Australians is amazing. They never give an inch, not even a centimetre. They never say die, always try till the last ball. Even if they lose early wickets they will have one partnership that will see them through. You can well forget that they will ease the pressure even for a while. That is something I learnt in Australia and I suppose that will help me in the future.

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