The Hindu : Sport : Kirsten handles the media well

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport

Kirsten handles the media well

— PHOTO: AFP

Kirsten.

Perth: Gary Kirsten, in his first official press interaction as India’s coach-in-waiting, showed he has the requisite skill to deal with the many-headed monster the media has become.

These are early days, and therefore apt to be rosy, but if Kirsten maintains the sort of calmness and honesty he exhibited in dealing with difficult questions, he will do his chances no harm. “It’s been an interesting initiation,” said the former South African opening batsman. “It has been a whirlwind tour last couple of months, but I certainly look at it as a massive honour. There is a lot of experience and to be involved with the cricket team from country like India where there is so much passion is something I am excited about.”

Tension

How did he view the tension between India and Australia following the second Test at Sydney? “(They are) two cricket mad countries, with lots of emotions, lots of intensity and I am quite sad to see how things have gone in the last week,” said Kirsten.

“There has been a lot of pressure and maybe people making the wrong choices in those circumstances that has affected the game of cricket. But you have to see it against the background of the game; it’s bigger than any team or any individual.”

Kirsten said “certain individuals” had “overstepped the acceptable mark” last week, but it fell on the cricketers who had to sort out such matters themselves.

Mental battle

Kirsten has compiled for the Indian team a document of his experiences in Australia. “It’s just my views and so it’s not the only way or the right way. Playing Australia is a mental battle and when you come to Australia they leave no stone unturned to test a character,” he said. “And one reason why I love Test cricket is that it tests who you are as a person. Certainly, when you play Australian team in Australia, you are fully examined as a person.”

Asked about the team’s composition for the third Test, Kirsten said it hadn’t been discussed yet in team meetings. Did he think Virender Sehwag should open? “Sehwag got a big hundred in the last game and he has respect of the Australians in the way he plays,” he replied. “I guess, he will become a factor and Rahul (Dravid) is certainly suited and more comfortable in the middle-order. In my personal opinion, specialists in specialist positions is the way to go.”

On playing two spinners, Kirsten said, “Two spinners are unlikely at the WACA but Harbhajan is one of the strengths of this Indian team and we might look to play him. It’s a dilemma.” — Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport