More now in a triple role

KIRAN MORE has been one of the better wicketkeepers India has had in recent times. As much for the sense of security More lent with his presence behind the stumps, one remembers More as a fighter who did his job with the bat as well. His contemporaries were said to be better batsmen, but still, More often came out well with the bat in crisis situations.

More, who like many other cricketers, is getting into the media, particularly commentating, feels very strongly for Indian cricket. Dividing his time between the academy that he runs in Vadodara, his sports factory unit, and now with the mike, More is destined to be associated with cricket all his life. ``God willing it will be so,'' says More, and goes on to talk more about the game.

The lack of alternatives in wicketkeeping has More worried. ``It is sad to see that we do not have much choice. Actually, it is our mistake that we have not groomed anyone properly for the wicketkeeper's job, and suddenly, we are left looking for one,'' says More. ``We should actually be looking for a batsman- wicketkeeper, not a wicketkeeper-batsman - one who keeps well and can also chip in with the bat, not vice-versa,'' he adds.

More is of the firm view that two wicketkeepers should always be taken on big tours abroad. ``Not only does it give adequate rest to the main keeper, it gives a good opportunity to the younger one to learn. I was there along with Kiri `bhai' (Syed Kirmani) for quite some time. I was first named in the Indian team in 1983, but made my Test debut only in 1986. It was learning the hard way, but eventually when I did replace Kiri, I felt the time I spent with him helped me immensely,'' says More.

``There used to be a lot of competition between wicketkeepers when I came on the scene. Apart from Kirmani, there were Sadanand Viswanath, Chandrakant Pandit, Surender Khanna, and even young Saba Karim around. As for now, Mongia is the best, with the others way below him,'' feels More.

Not only the standard of wicketkeeping, More feels the general standard of the game has deteriorated at the domestic level. ``There are only some outstanding players and the rest are way below. Like when Ajay Jadeja played in the Deodhar tie against West Zone, and he was a class apart. It is not often that international players play in Duleep and Deodhar tournaments, like they used to. Facing Srinath, Prasad or Kumble, or bowling to Sachin will really help a player evaluate where he really stands, which is very important.''

More also feels that the longer version of the game is very important, especially for spinners. ``We have no leg-spinner, which is very surprising. We are talking about setting up pace academies, why not think about spinners? Why not play on our strong points? Not long back, Shastri and Shivlal Yadav did well in Australia, accounting for some 40 wickets put together on the tour. International cricket nowadays may need more fast bowlers, but spinners too can do their bit. Our spinners did well in the World Championships that we won in Australia in 1985, and Kirti Azad did his own bit in the 1983 World Cup. So why can't it be so now ?'' More has a point here.

``There are too many one day games, leading to the bowlers looking at restricting runs. They want to keep their analysis such that they do not concede more than 40 runs. The urge to take wickets is not there. But look at the Pakistani bowlers, who concede runs, but also take wickets, often a five-wicket bag. I would be happier having a bowler or two like that, getting breakthroughs rather than bowl a restrictive line and length. Cricket has become different, the batsmen going for runs from the first 15 overs itself. That way, cricket is more positive nowadays, making it all the more important to have a strike bowler,'' says More.

He however does not agree with the view that India caps are being distributed. More feels that it is inevitable that many players play for India with so many injuries, again due to too much cricket. He feels there is no harm in trying players, but they should be tried for more games - say about eight to ten.

More feels that having a National pool is not a bad idea. ``A pool of 25, like that in Australia, is not a bad idea, but again, one can not limit oneself to those players. If someone else is doing well, he too can be given a chance,'' says More, adding ``I think we are in dire need of quality openers,'' as an after thought.

Asked on how having contracts rather than match fees could help our cricketers, More says: ``Contracts can be useful, but security can lead to complacence. But there should be some gradation. Like when I came into the side, I was getting the same fees as Sunil Gavaskar, and I felt guilty about it.''

On the super league system in Ranji Trophy, More concedes that players get to play different teams and players, but is of the view that such matches are useless on such easy batting wickets, on which the batsmen are not tested.

More feels the Ranji format is fine, and a tier system is not advisable. ``The smaller states need to be given chances. Baroda and Orissa have done well in recent times. Smaller states too can produce good cricketers or even a good combination,'' says More, who is enjoying his stints in the media.

``I am still in the learning process of this profession, but it is a differrent ball game altogether. But my focus is on my academy, my ambition being to produce cricketers for Baroda and India. The response is very good, like it always is in India,'' informs More, proud of the fact there are a good 14 wickets at the Alempic ground, most of them turf. Right now, More is in office till 3 p.m. and after that at the academy. As for the media, it is on and off now, but who knows to what extent More may take his role as a media person.

C. RAJSHEKHAR RAO

New Delhi

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