The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : My attitude has remained the same: Kumble

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 06, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

My attitude has remained the same: Kumble

By Sanjay Rajan

CHENNAI, JULY 5. With more than 300 wickets in both forms of the game — he is just three short of the 400-mark in Test cricket — Anil Kumble is not just the country's match-winner but also its most successful spinner of all time.

The leg-spinner from Karnataka spoke about his evolution as a cricketer in this exclusive chat with The Hindu during the Asia Cup probables' camp at the Chidambaram Stadium here on Monday.

Excerpts:

Question: Can you compare Kumble the bowler of 1990 and 2004? How have you evolved over the past 14 years?

Answer: The attitude has remained more or less the same. One naturally evolves as a person (and a cricketer) over the years. Each match is a learning process. You sit back after a day's play and analyse what you did, and what you could have done. Gradually the thought process becomes second nature.

Q: When you take the field, do you play with a captain's eye? It helps you to be alive to every aspect of the game, don't you think?

A: I guess everybody does that. It helps you to contribute to the formulation of team strategy. It keeps you thinking on the field and analyse how you would approach a particular problem, say, plan a particular dismissal.

Q: Do you like or dislike bowling to lefthanders? Many bowlers do not like to do so.

A: I've never said I don't like bowling to lefthanders. It is part of the game, and I consider it a challenge. At times it is a big help. Like, say, on the third or fourth day when there is nothing in the wicket, a lefthander at least creates footmarks which can be utilised by the bowlers.

Q: You field at gully as a specialist. Don't you think you could have concentrated fielding at first slip? Less running in the outfield would have helped you conserve energy over the years.

A: I've stood at gully for long. Close-in positions are specialist positions. Rahul is doing a fantastic job at first slip, Laxman at second and Viru third. Guess I'll remain there.

Q: The variation of pace has been your forte. What is your stock delivery, like Sharne Warne's leg-break?

A: I tend to push it a bit. That's probably my stock delivery. I bowl a lot quicker. I have my top-spinner. Over the years I figured out that I needed to constantly change my pace, even if I don't constantly vary the type of delivery.

Varying the pace is a variation in itself. I work on these aspects at the nets.

Q: You have said that you prefer another spinner bowling in tandem with you. Why?

A: It's a question of keeping the pressure on. I've always believed that pressure gets a batsman out, not necessarily who is bowling. Obviously, you need to be capable of applying that kind of pressure and sustain it over a period of time. I believe that if two spinners are bowling in tandem, the batsman tries to get after the bowling to unsettle them. Also, when spinners hurry through the overs, it worries the batsman who feels that he's being tied down.

Q: Do you feel that too much emphasis on physical conditioning takes away the suppleness from a spinner?

A: I don't agree at all. People say that you get stiff working out in the gym. It's about striking the right balance. It also depends on the individual.

Q: In your long career, which international batsman has been a major challenge to you?

A: I've bowled to several fine players over the years. It is difficult to point out just one. From the West Indies, you have Lara, Hooper and Chanderpaul. From Australia, the Waughs, Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting. Kallis, Kirsten from South Africa. Aravinda, Arjuna, Atapattu, Jayasuriya from Sri Lanka. It's a long list, really.

Q: Any Indian batsman?

A: I've not played much domestic cricket, so that's a little difficult to answer. But then, the Indians are generally comfortable against spin. It's their staple diet.

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