During the Champions league final this year, a lot of people thought that with the start Rajasthan Royals got against Mumbai Indians while chasing over 200, they would’ve been crowned champions had you been in the team. Were you itching to just go and play at that time even if you injured yourself in the semifinalsIJ
(laughs) I was certainly itching. This was Rajasthan’s biggest game that I was playing in. This was a very important match for the Royals and I was heartbroken not to play in the finals, I was devastated. I understand that everyone felt that had I been there we would have won the game. It’s unfortunate that the injury happened and I felt that I could have made a difference to the game but all in all for the side that we put together, the management deserves full credit. I had a specific role that Rahul (Dravid) wanted me to play and it was working perfectly well for the team. I gave other people, like Shane Watson, Stuart Binny and the youngster like Sanju Samson the confidence of being there in the end. But I think the knowledge of me not being there in the final might have affected us a little bit.
How do you sum up your stint with Rajasthan Royals in the past two seasons, especially with the ups and the low-point during the spot-fixing scandalIJ
That was a nasty sort of an incident over the course of two years but now it feels that it is insignificant because of the cricket that we’ve played. Everyone contributed beautifully to Rajasthan Royals performing well. Beautifully led by Rahul Dravid, Paddy Upton did a wonderful job as the coach and same about the management. The players performed well. Samson, Binny, Rahane, Watson, myself, Faulkner, Cooper and the spinner who came in this year, he’s 43 (Pravin Tambe), he came in and did a wonderful job. So the cricket that we played, far outweighed that hiccup. As devastating as it was then, if I look back now, it seems insignificant with the kind of cricket we played. We played a brand of cricket that was exciting and almost won us a couple of titles. So if you can do that and face that adversity while doing it, you’ve got a group of very good cricketers.
So who would captain RR next yearIJ
I would put my money on Shane Watson as captain.
You turn 39 this year. Are you looking at a number as to till when would you playIJ
I’ve got no intentions of finishing anytime soon and plan to come and win an IPl title. I have minimum of three years and my mind and body is switched on to those three years in IPl. I look forward to the extension policy or the auction if that happens. I want to find out which team I’ll be a part of. It’s exciting part of our time and it’s easily the best tournament in the world. I love playing it and love being a part of it.
When one looks at your international career, 6 Tests (including a double-hundred) and 25 ODIs don’t do justice to someone as talented as you. Do you think you played in the wrong eraIJ Or was it purely bad-luckIJ
Probably a bit of both. It is a bit of bad luck to be born in the era of Ponting, Hayden, langer, Gilchrist, Martin, Symonds, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Martin love, I wouldn’t say wrong era but I am happy to have played in that era because it was a dominant Australian side in Test matches. I played ODIs in a side which was pretty good. I would have played more Test matches had those players not been around for so long but it gave me the chance to hone my skills in T-20 and be a great player in IPl which I strive to do these days. I try to dominat IPl, that’s my dream now.
One believes you can make it to the present Australian squad any time of the day. Has a thought like ‘wish I was born 5-7 years later’ ever come to youIJ
(laughs again) It’s not my fault, it’s my mom and dad’s. You’re probably right. (that’s where his son comes up to him for something ‘I’m busy Bob, go get to grandma’ he tells him). I’m extremely grateful that I played six Tests but I wish I had played 60. Just being in that era has probably hurt me because there were just so many good players and they just did not get out of the side.
Talking about the present Aussie side, leaving the Brisbane Test, what are the reasons for the present turmoil which led to seven defeats in 10 TestsIJ
Confidence of being down for so long is the problem. Now that they’ve got this win (first Ashes Test at Brisbane), you would see the confidence grow. But ya, we lost to England and India poorly. But both those teams are very good on home soil. It’s now time for us to make amends on home soil and show the world that we’re fighting and will be back on the top some time.
Can your country win back the Ashes this timeIJ Are they a better side than the one that toured England this yearIJ
I think they can win it from here. Perth will be very tough for England. It has been a struggle for them at Brisbane and Perth would also be one as the track would be bouncy. So hopefully we would be ahead in Perth. The other ones — Adelaide, Sydney and Melboure — 50-50 I suppose.
And, what about the verbal battleIJ You think the chat brings out the best from the Australians because it makes them aggressiveIJ Is it the right wayIJ
I am not sure. I think the verbal thing has been going on in every Test. It hasn’t changed. Off-late, we’ve been on the losing side of the verbal duel. I’m sure our players have been getting sledged in England and when they were in India because our performances weren’t good enough. It’s always been around. It’s not necessarily a part of the game and it doesn’t matter. I think aggression was shown when Mitchell Johnson was bowling fast and all those bouncers making life difficult for the batsmen. That’s what it is about I think.
Your reaction to the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar. Do you remember any communication with him worth reproducing for our readersIJ
One of the best things that I ever did was when I was in 2005 squad to India when Sachin along with myself, Shane Warne and two other Australian players went to Sachin’s restaurant in Mumbai. We enjoyed his company and heard a few of his stories. It was pretty special for a youngster to spend some time with the master I guess. Another moment WAS when I was playing for Kochi (IPl 2011) when he got a hundred against us, that was pretty good to watch.
About retirement, I think it was fun time to be in Mumbai when he was was playing his final Test. It looked like he was enjoying it. It was a fitting farewall for someone who has played such a good part in world cricket.
Who do you think is the best batsmen and bowler in the world, across all formats, todayIJ
Hashim Amla is probably the best from what I’ve seen in Test cricket, his performances have been unbelievable. Bowling it’s hard to tell. It’s been up and down but Amla among batsmen.
You’ve seen cricket evolve over the years and adjusted with it. Where is the game headingIJ Is the perception of lesser Tests in the future good for the gameIJ
It’s going towards more Test matches and more T-20s. ODIs will fade out a little bit. We’ve seen some very good Test matches lately and some good cricket being played in Tests. It’s been a part of the tradition of the game and is going to stay. T-20s are awesome, good for the fans, good fun to play. ODIs have been revamped a little bit. But it’s hard to tell where it is going, though it is on the right track. There is lot of support here in Australia for the Ashes and in India there is always that support for cricket matches. So it’s in good health.
Apart from the cricket, what keeps you busy these daysIJ We have heard you’re pursuing an MBA degree.Any other hobby that attracts youIJ
Yes, I have three subjects to go in my Masters of Business in Sports management that I am pursuing at the moment. Then, I help in renovating my house and have three kids to look after which pretty much takes away my day.