Shaun Pollock virtually endorsed the national selectors’ judgment in not being swayed by the performances of fresh young Indian players in the IPL-IV season for the one-day series against the West Indies.
“If someone is on the periphery, close to selection, you see him play well (in the IPL), then he can be considered for selection; for example, Sharma (Rohit). He was not in the World Cup squad. He has had a fantastic IPL. He was in the edges of playing and not playing. But he has given confidence (to the selectors) from the way he has played the IPL and that’s why he has been put in the team. But if you are looking for someone who has never played for the country before and expect to select him on a Twenty20 performance, it would not work for me, and I am obviously not the selector of India. India is the World Cup champion, why would you want to make any changes. India has a good side.’’
“The IPL is fantastic for Indian cricket; it gets you the best coaches, the best medical staff and gets the young guys exposed to play with international players. The people get to see what these players do on international stage against international players. There’s no doubt the IPL will play its part.
“But one also needs to understand that 20-over cricket is quite different from 50-over cricket. You can play with freedom in 20-over cricket and it does not really matter if you get out. You don’t have to take responsibility all the time, you can just play the shots. Then there is the big difference between 50 over and Test cricket,’’ Pollock said.
Responding to a question on Ambati Rayudu’s ability as a batsman-keeper he said: “He has done very well with the bat. I think from the keeping perspective he’s not very experienced. He’s done it in the Twenty20 format and he has done a good job, but in a 50 over match, to do it (keeping) and come and bat would be very difficult.’’
