I’m quite good at the language of cricket, says Ravi Shastri

''I want the players to enjoy playing cricket with an uncluttered mind''

August 21, 2014 11:22 am | Updated November 16, 2021 05:42 pm IST - Mumbai

Asked what he felt were the reasons for India’s failure in the Test series, Shastri said it was inexperience. File photo.

Asked what he felt were the reasons for India’s failure in the Test series, Shastri said it was inexperience. File photo.

Ravi Shastri went out of the way to back a careworn Indian batting line-up that was all at sea in seamer-friendly conditions and was shot out for paltry scores of 178 (Southampton), 152 and 161 (Old Trafford) and 148 and 94 at the Kennington Oval.

Talking to The Hindu from London on Thursday, Shastri said that “the collective lack of experience of M.S. Dhoni’s team” was responsible for the sudden reversal of fortunes after a fine win at Lord’s.

“It was sheer inexperience to counter the prevailing conditions there and the high quality of bowling that saw the team going down. No one has seen so much grass on a first-day wicket at the Oval.

“The 1974 Indian team had some experience, and it lost 3-0; this time it was a very inexperienced team that went down 3-1.

“All said and done I would put down the Lord’s win as the best by an Indian team overseas. We had so much experience at Adelaide (in December 2003).

“And following his seven-for in the memorable Indian win we did not have Ishant Sharma at Southampton and Old Trafford.”

Appointed director of cricket for the remaining part of the England tour (5 ODIs and one Twenty20 match), Shastri will move in with the Indian team after assistant coaches Sanjay Bangar and Bharat Arun and fielding coach R. Sridhar reach England.

Own way of doing things

“I have my own ways of doing things; the players speak different languages and there is something called the language of cricket which I think I am good at. I will have a meeting with the entire team and coaching staff.

“Duncan Fletcher will be the head coach and Sanjay, Bharat and Sridhar will work under him. I want the players to enjoy playing cricket with an uncluttered mind,” said the former India all-rounder who was known for his steady approach to batting and bowling that yielded results on many occasions.

Shastri agreed that India may have hoped for a lot more after the team’s encouraging display in the first two Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord’s, but believed that England’s seasoned new-ball pair of James Anderson (25 wickets) and Stuart Broad (19 wickets), with 644 Test wickets between them, were far too skilful in favourable conditions.

When asked if the English-made Dukes ball gave the home seamers an advantage, as the Indian seamers were used to the Kookaburra and SG Test, Shastri said: “Even the Indian seamers were able to move the ball, but I think one particular brand of ball should be used for international cricket.”

Without going deep into the matter of the spin-resources of the Indian team, especially Ravichandran Ashwin, Shastri felt that the conditions may not have encouraged the team to field two spinners, but “in hindsight one can say, two spinners was an option for the first two Tests.”

Play county cricket

Asked to pick out the reason for Virat Kohli’s inability to show even a spark right through the series, Shastri said point-blank, “His technique was exposed in the English conditions. He is young and he will learn.

“I want Indian cricketers to make the most of the off-season after the IPL. I played in the North Lancashire league for a few years and then for Glamorgan for four seasons.

“The BCCI should allow the players to play league and county cricket in England.

“Well, Dhoni without adequate technique demonstrated spirit and character, making 71 and 82 at Old Trafford and the Oval. That’s because he had experience behind him.”

Shastri’s duty as director of the Indian team will confine him to watching, guiding and monitoring all that happens around the Indian team during the remainder of the tour.

He has heard some good things about Fletcher, about the technical inputs he comes up with.

What does he make of Fletcher’s coaching? Will he make himself available till the World Cup?

“Look, the BCCI has given me all opportunities to play from my junior days. So this is my way of responding to a call from the BCCI.

“But I don’t think too far ahead. I live in the present and as of now will be with the team till the end of this tour. And I will be able to assess Fletcher at the end of the series.”

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