Abid Ali in a new role

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 29. He had a unique entry into Test cricket. Leave alone his six-wicket haul against the Australians in 1967- 68 series. He made his Test debut, never having watched one before he actually played.

Syed Abid Ali, the gutsy all-rounder of yesteryears, is now donning a new role, much to the delight of Andhra Cricket Association. He will be coaching the youthful outfit for two months this season in its Ranji Trophy campaign. If Andhra qualifies for the knock-out phase, then there can be a relook at his coaching contract. The Andhra Ranji camp will commence from November 20 in Vizag.

Not long ago, he had `seen life after death', when an agency reporter bungled on his health and some newspapers wrote obits after he had a by-pass surgery in United States. The 59- year-old fast bowler and hard-hitting batsman feels that he couldn't resist the temptation of being away (in United States) from home and that too when it gives him a chance to give back something to the sport which made him one of the celebrated cricketers from Hyderabad. He asserts that it gives one greater satisfaction if he guides a team from the bottom of the table to the top three.

``The amount of commitment, involvement and the likely response you get from the willing learners is a unique experience,'' he says. Abid Ali insists that he browsed through the performance charts of the Andhra teams in various tournaments and is confident of delivering the goods. ``I think they have the talent and that's why I accepted the challenge when Mr. N. Venkat Rao, secretary of ACA, offered me this assignment,'' the stalwart of yesteryears said. He can well just be the right man who can change the destiny of Andhra cricket.

Predictably, Abid believes that if the fielding is good even an ordinary team looks formidable and vice-versa. This is understandable from a man who was reputed to be one of the best in the world in the 60s and 70s. And, that he didn't earn that tag overnight. He used to water the roller at the Fateh Maidan, hit the cricket ball and practice catching for hours to master the art as the ball would deflect back in different directions.

``It is an art which one has to enjoy to be rated very high,'' he said. ``If a fielder is fully focussed on the batsman, always expecting the ball to come to him, he would stand out from the rest of the crowd,'' he pointed out. ``This is what separates Eknath Solkar, Ricky Ponting and Jonty Rhodes whose greatest asset is that they never allow anything to pass by within the vicinity of six feet in whichever position they stand,'' Abid explained.

Cricket is all about psychology, the intensity of one's mental approach to the task on hand and how focussed he is in translating the inherent talent into performances, Abid Ali told the budding youngsters at Sai Baba's Sports Coaching Foundation (Masab Tank) here this morning. The fast bowlers camp there is concluding today and he will be presented a purse of Rs. 10,000 by Mr. K. Sai Baba, general secretary of SCF, as a token gesture.

It has been a remarkable Test debut for Abid in Australia as his six-wicket haul included the likes of Bobby Simpson - who was caught and bowled expecting a slower one but surprised by the extra bounce, Bill Lawry - induced into a leg- glance straight to wicketkeeper Farookh Engineer. A performance which made Frank Tyson walk up to him and have a few words of appreciation.

But, why Abid Ali couldn't be a far more consistent all-rounder at the highest level? ``I presume the reason could be you are not sure at which position you are batting and even in bowling I was not a regular. For we had such fabulous spinners who could spin the ball from the second over of the innings itself. So, in a way, the opportunities were few and far. And, there is always the fear of losing your place, lurking around the corner,'' he explained.

For one who considers the late M.L. Jaisimha as the ultimate `guru' in cricket, Abid has the highest regard for the shrewdest cricketing brain from Hyderabad. ``He was the one who advised me to change my bowling action slightly to see that the bowling arm comes down from top in a smooth fashion for greater effect. He was always there everytime any cricketer needed help,'' the ebullient cricketer revealed.

And, he will never forget the first run in his maiden Ranji Trophy match against Andhra at the Fateh Maidan in 1958. ``Jai realised that I was very nervous and the importance of seeing me score my first run. He just walked down to tell me `I am ready man, just take a single'. When I did that, I suddenly felt on top of the world. I scored my maiden half-century and Jai a century.''

Abid Ali recalls those memorable moments. ``Like Tiger Pataudi, Jai got the cricketing eye in spotting genuine talent. Tell me who can be as daring as `Tiger' in insisting that a little-known (outside the South Zone) Vishy to be included against the Australians in the Kanpur Test. And see the result. A genius was born,'' he explained.

These are the things which the oldies should do voluntarily now. ``They should go around and spot talent all in the love of the sport,'' says Abid Ali.

Well, for some one who once bowled a dream spell in the Trinidad Test in 1971, clean bowling Rohan Kanhai and Sir Garfield Sobers off successive shooters, Abid knows what he speaks. His philosophy is that both life and cricket are simple and they are made to look complicated. ``If we stick to basics, then everything will be in order. That is the reason why the Aussies are the best. In a crisis, they always go back to basics - art of taking singles, picking the weak fielders for extra runs, meticulous planning in their approach,'' Abid Ali says. ``Just do it'' is the message from this veteran to all the enthusiastic youngsters at the nets.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Women's cricket: dearth of funds the major
           hindrance
Next     : Gandhi and cricket