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To err is human, says Wright

By G. Viswanath

Indian coach John Wright dismisses the theory that England skipper Nasser Hussain has sorted out Sachin Tendulkar. He feels that Tendulkar is too good a player and will bounce back soon. — Photo: N. Sridharan

Trent Bridge Aug. 6. Actually India's coach John Wright did not react when he was told that Sachin Tendulkar scored 251 runs in the Trent Bridge Test (177 and 74) six years ago. But he had quite a few things to say, beginning with the Lord's Test, about Tendulkar's form, India's bowling and also on the chances of Yuveraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif proving successful in Test cricket. The Indians, who had a full training and practice session on Monday, were given the option of resting on Tuesday. Forty-eight hours before the second Test here starting on Thursday, Wright spoke on the following matters before joining captain Sourav Ganguly, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar and Tinu Yohannan at a specially convened bowlers' meeting.

Q. On the Lord's Test.

A. Not a lot to say about it now. But we have to play a lot better than what we did at Lord's. Our performance was below than what we are capable of producing. I thought we bowled too many poor balls. We lost wickets at critical times really, particularly in the first innings. We needed to play with a little more care on the second day and get through to 200 for 2 or 3. We could have done that, rather than being 130 for 1. That would have made a difference.

Q. The lost opportunity to restrict England to fewer than 400 runs in the first innings. England was 357 for 7.

A. Yes, there's a big difference between 480 and 380. That's one of their strengths in Test cricket. They bat a long way down. People ask where are their (England's) great players. Well, I would say that they are a better-balanced side than we are because they have got a better tail.

Q. Your comments on Tendulkar's performance at Lord's.

A. Personally, and I am sure Sachin doesn't either; I am not worried too much about what's written about him. He has proved and will continue to prove himself. He leaves most of his talking to deeds on the field. Sachin felt good in the second innings of the first Test. He was in control, but did not go on and get some runs. He wanted to play against Worcestershire. It was a challenging wicket and he got great practice. He has not maintained the consistency of performance for a period of time, but he has not been found wanting on the mental side. That's what I would like to say. Everyone is human. Everyone makes mistakes. One has to judge Tendulkar by the high standards he sets. Personally, as a coach, I am not at all worried about Tendulkar. He will succeed.

Q. It's been said Hussain has sorted him out.

A. If you read everyone's report and everyone's opinion, you would lose the proper perspective of things. Everyone is entitled to his view. All I can say is that Sachin is one of our leading players and I fully expect him to bounce back as he did at Jamaica making 41 and 86.

Q. You think people are wrong in arguing that he does not score runs in the finals?

A. I have no time for those arguments. As far as I am concerned he is a tremendous competitor. When you are the best player in the world people have all sorts of theories, when you have a game, when not everything goes right for you. People had their views on how Tiger Woods could not handle the British Open. I am looking forward to Tendulkar playing the rest of the tour, for the ICC and the World Cup, in particular. Already he has done it. India may not have qualified for the Lord's final, if he had not done it in critical times during that tournament (NatWest Trophy). People forget the pressure situations getting to that final. If he goes out and plays his game, he will succeed, more than the others.

Q. On Ganguly's statement that Harbhajan Singh might have been a better choice for the first Test.

A. I agree with that. The coach gives his honest opinions. But at the end of the day, it is the captain who should be allowed to make his final decision. He should be entitled to that prerogative. The captain needs to take out eleven men whom he thinks will do the job for him and the country. There are times a coach will have different views. Your job is to convince the captain on the right way to go. I have always been strongly biased towards the spin option for India. I suppose it comes being a New Zealander. At Trinidad we were keen on playing two spinners. So these are the issues you grapple with. A captain's job is to lead the side. My job is to give him the information and also make the players aware of things.

Q. Your comments on Ganguly's captaincy.

A. It's not appropriate to make judgments on the captain and the other players. What we are trying to do is to get back into a Test match. Well, Sourav has led the country to a very good victory in the NatWest final. We are one down in the Test series. All of us are getting back to fighting spirit; keep the belief high so that we can play well in the next Test match.

Q. On Kumble's and Nehra's fitness problems.

A. Kumble has not had a major period of rest. He pulled his calf muscle in the match leading to the NatWest final. He played the Hampshire game with absolutely no problem at all. But there was a slight strain during the Test (he bowled 66.2 overs), and we have been working on it since then. He is quite simply one of the conscientious players and a thorough professional. It's not a case of whether Anil is getting fitter or Ashish is getting fitter. We are coping with the programme well. I think their performance in the middle is important, not how long they are on the physics table. That's all hearsay. We have to make totally sure that Anil is capable of doing that (to bowl long spells in the second Test).

Q. Do we have bowlers who can win matches abroad?

A. That's what we are hoping for. That's what we have got to do in the next three Tests, produce those match winning performances.

Q. Will Jaffer and Sehwag get four Tests in a row?

A. Well, it's up to them really. They have got to perform. Das is waiting and very keen to play. He has lacked opportunities on the tour. It is tough; Jaffer got the first call because he had a better tour of the West Indies. But I think Das is a long prospect for India. He is working hard. But both these boys (Jaffer and Sehwag) did enough in the first Test to suggest that they can handle it. Having said that the wicket conditions may be more challenging here. Both are capable of punishing the bad balls. One would love to see them get going.

Q. Sehwag missed an opportunity for a big score in the first innings. He made 84.

A. We have talked about that. We needed to preserve the wicket at that stage of the game. It is more important than how many runs we get. He is a young cricketer and hopefully he is learning.

Q. What about Sadagopan Ramesh.

A. Where's he gone? I have high regard for him. I hope he gets many opportunities at first class level. We cannot afford him not playing in all these matches. He is a high-class player.

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