An enigma right through his career

Former India cricketer Salim Durrani making a point. - Pic. By N. Sridharan

OF THE 29 Test matches n which he represented India between 1959- 60 and 1972-73, the lanky, handsome all-rounder played a prominent part in winning at least six for the country.

Although his career statistics has it that he scored a century and seven 50s, apart from claiming 75 wickets with his left-arm spin, concealed is the fact that each of his knocks has a chunk of history behind it and 43 of his wickets were batsmen coming in between one and six.

When you are talking about Salim Aziz Durrani, you are speaking (as many would agree) about a genius. And in the presence of genius no rules apply.

Some of Durrani's rare talents were enigmatic to the end. One could only marvel at his gifts, but one could never really get a hold of his nature.

Durrani is among the few match-winners (both with bat and ball) that the country has produced. He began his international career as a left-arm spinner, making his debut against Australia at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. He played his last Test in Mumbai too, the series against Tony Lewis' England that ran close, in which he played more as a batsman and had a big hand in India winning 2-1. In between though, there was no justification for him missing the tours of England, Australia and New Zealand in 1967.

Batting in the second innings with Gavaskar as runner in the second Test in Calcutta (he didn't play in the first and fourth Tests), Durrani top-scored with 53 - a game which India won by 28 runs.

In the third Test in Madras, Durrani, batting at No. 4, made 38 in both innings, the second essay knock (he was the top-scorer) being crucial. India, needing 86 for victory, scraped through, by four wickets, under intense pressure.

In the fifth and final Test, his last too, at Brabourne Stadium, Durrani, batting at No. 4, made 73 and 37.

His lone century came in the fourth Test at Port-of-Spain in 1961-62. India was bowled out for 197 in the first innings in reply to West Indies' 444. Following on, India made 422, Durrani, coming in at No. 3, made 104. Polly Umrigar top-scored with an unbeaten 172. The West Indies attack comprised Hall, Stayers, Gibbs, Sobers, Rodriguez and Worrell. The host won the game by seven wickets.

Durrani was a rhythm bowler, who on his day was unplayable. He bowled India to victory over Ted Dexter's England in the Calcutta and Madras Tests of 1961-62 with match-hauls of eight and 10 wickets respectively.

His bowling had repertoire. He possessed a delivery which he flicked with the third finger and controlled the speed. The very delivery with which he clean bowled Gary Sobers in the famous Port-of-Spain Test of 1971 in the second innings. He had earlier in the same over dismissed Clive Lloyd. It was India's first victory against the West Indies.

Durrani was in Chennai recently. Excerpts from a chat:

Question: What do you feel Sourav Ganguly should do to get

back into form?

Answer: When one is going through a bad run, the tendency is to either become too defensive or to try to hit one's way out of bad form. Basically, both methods are wrong. The important thing is not to repeat the way one has been getting out. This is what the coach John Wright has to identify and help him with.

Q: How would you advocate Muttiah Muralitharan should be tackled?

A: Muralitharan is the biggest spinner of the ball ever. But big spinners of the ball normally get carried away, thinking that spin alone is enough to dismiss top quality batsmen. Murali is an exception because he uses other subtleties. He is proud of his ability. The answer is to play a cat and mouse game with him. He should be made to guess what your tactics as a batsman would be. He should be made to think. But then as a batsman you should believe in yourself.

Q: What about Shane Warne?

A: He is a great bowler but he does not have the control of Subhash Gupte. This is why our batsmen have punished him. He bowls at least two bad balls an over. The problem is foreign batsmen do not punish the two bad balls. This is why he gets away and good luck to him.

Q: What are the inconsistencies of Indian cricket selection?

A: Even when I was playing, selection was dogged by inconsistency and bias. Nothing has really changed. But then we have been a nation of compromise-seekers, hence we have the zonal system of selection. The answer is to have three selectors whose integrity and knowledge of the game cannot be questioned. Have five zonal selectors who will provide the three national selectors with information - talent spotters. Once they suggest names, the national selectors should go and see the players for themselves.

Q: How would you rate Sachin Tendulkar among India's great batsmen?

A: Sachin has more to achieve. He has to learn to finish matches. I think he needs to concentrate like Sunil Gavaskar could. Also, he must handle the incoming delivery better. Technically, Vijay Manjrekar and Sunil Gavaskar are ahead of him even now.

Q: Why are we suspect against real fast bowling?

A: You need courage and determination. At the same time you should not allow them to know that you don't like the `treatment'. Against sheer pace the technique is basic. Get behind the ball. Sometimes you have to take on the bowler. We need to coach kids right. Our coaching, however, is poor.

Q: Do you regret that in your time professionalism was not encouraged?

A: Vinoo bhai (Mankad) and Vijay Manjrekar turned pro, but the Board then was not happy. Looking at their experiences I realised that I would have been thrown out even earlier than I was. Today, we have amateurs being paid like professionals and playing amateur cricket, with a few exceptions like Sachin and Anil Kumble.

Q: You must admit that you did not do justice to your talents. Have you anything to say in your defence?

A: There was little international cricket in our time. Every series was a matter of learning and adapting anew. I have batted at all numbers between three and 10. I got my only century at No. 3. Every time I batted at No. 3, I delivered. But even then I did not have a permanent batting position. I have no regrets whatsoever. I have dismissed the greatest batsmen in the game and scored a century against the best attack in the game in my time.

Q: Why are we not able to produce quality all-rounders?

A: An all-rounder is one who can make 70 today and take five wickets tomorrow. Today you score 30 and take two wickets and you are hailed as an all-rounder. In our time all the all-rounders were batting either at 3 or 4 for their respective States and Zones and bowling 30 to 40 overs per innings. That is not the case today.

Q: Who were the people who encouraged you the most in your career?

A: Vinoo bhai, Raj Singh Dungarpur and Hanumant Singh.

My friends in the game are Jaisimha (he is gone), Prasanna, Bishan Singh Bedi and Chandrashekar. When I get a chance I spend time with them.

SANJAY RAJAN

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