Q: How do you view the
current spin scene across the world?
A: There are a few highly talented spinner around but where do they get a chance
to show their skills, especially in one-day cricket! Things like power plays
have increased a spinner’s headache. There are fielding restrictions for 20
overs now, and as a result, the balance of the game is more uneven and totally
in favour of batsmen.
Q: But then, good bowlers
like you are still a force to reckon with…
A: Look, in one-day games, most spinners are bowling defensively to keep the
batsmen in check. It’s the length that is getting affected. The spinners are
resorting to shortening their length to avoid being hit out of the park.
Q: What should a spinner
do to survive in one-day cricket?
A: It’s a tough job. Most pitches around the world are pretty flat and spinners
have to keep the batsmen guessing to be successful. It is sad to see spinners
not flighting the ball but you can’t really blame them. If they go for a few
sixes, their captains will not be too thrilled about it and when you flight the
ball, there are times when you go for a few. Instead of looking for four or five
wickets for 25 runs, a spinner now has to be happy with figures of one for 40 in
10 overs
Q: What are the
challenges that spinners will face here during the ICC Champions Trophy?
A: Wickets over here are very flat and batsmen-friendly. There is a lot of
difference in conditions in India and one has to bowl with a different attitude.
Also, the moisture on the pitch and the outfield would make it quite difficult
to spin the ball. But then, adaptation is the key. The best spinners always make
a contribution to their teams, no matter how adverse the conditions are.
Q: Who are the modern-day
spinners that you look up to?
A: Shane Warne has inspired many youngsters to take to spin bowling and I have
also been heavily influenced by him. I also enjoy watching Harbhajan Singh bowl
as he proves his usefulness to the side under all conditions.
Q: Why is left-arm spin
fading out?
A: That’s because we haven’t really developed too many variations. A top class
leg-spinner like Warne or Kumble has several different balls in the repertoire.
Off-spinners have also developed a 'doosra', but left-arm spinners have only the
armer as a variation
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