From: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu (Murali Iyer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Donald, Kapil and South Africa
Date: 14 Dec 1992 20:47:41 GMT
Organization: Marquette University - Computer Services
Reply-To: 9063iyerm@vms.csd.mu.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: vmsa.csd.mu.edu


The latest issue of Sportstar carries an interview with Allan Donald, the fast
bowler from South Africa. I present a few excerpts to whet the hungry netters'
appetites.

Q: Where did your education on fast bowling come from?

A: Mostly in England. I learnt to bowl on different pitches. I learnt to bowl
different lengths. They always talk about English length because you bowl on
different grounds. In my case, Bob Woolmer has been a tremendous asset and the
biggest impact on my international career so far.

Q: How do you like being called one of the fastest bowlers?

A: Well, it's a tag which means people respect you. Wherever you go, people say
he is quite sharp and they've got to look out for him. It is nice to have that
tag. Of being the quickest bowler in the world. 

Q: Why do you always try to blast the batsman out, even in the one-day games?

A: I have always been an attacking bowler. At the moment, it looks like I am
bowling far too straight. Especially against the Indians, you know. They are
like jockeys. They whipe a lot(laughs). I need wickets very desperately now. I
have had a lot of bad luck. Catches dropped and decisions going against me. I
need a break.

Donald goes on to say Richard Hadlee is his idol, and should be the role model
for every fast bowler. Donald says, whenever he finds himself in a rut, he goes
back and watches Hadlee on video and imitates him. 

Donald is said to be very cool on and off the field. Never throws a temper
tantrum, takes the bad decisions with the good. This Indian team, Donald says,
is the friendliest team on the circuit. Indians are nice people, he goes on. 
On the field, it is different. Each one plays the game hard. Off the field,
helluva nice bunch of guys. 

Donald is a professional cricketer, does not work elsewhere. Works out every
day, by way of sprinting and fitness exercises. No weight training or
long-distance running for him, Says the body becomes stiff from these. 

The same issue contains an article on Kapil Dev by R. Mohan.  Mohan asserts
that Kapil's outlook towards the game has changed considerably since the tour
down-under. Whereas in Australia, Kapil apparently stayed aloof and distanced
himself from team decisions after a few initial rebuffs, here in South Africa,
Kapil is right in the middle of things. The board has made him an official
member of the tour management committee, and Kapil is said to be affixing his
signature on all team selections. Not only that, Kapil has introduced his
professionalism into everything he takes up. 

The team's nets were transformed from lazy affairs into a tightly run ship
under Kapil's stewardship. The way it came about was that while the team
management was thinking of ways to make the practice sessions more meaningful,
it was decided that each week, one senior cricketer would be in charge of nets.
Kapil volunteered for the first week and set an example others are not trying
to emulate. 

Next, Kapil was made the twelfth man for the four-day at game Centurion Park.
Instead of just taking it easy, Kapil took the twelfth man's role very
seriously and even made notes of every player's needs and took care to see that
they were met. Drinks saw each player getting exactly what he wanted(no
alcohol, I guess). Kapil's favorite slogan these days is said to be "Watan Ke
liye"(for the country), after someone used the expression to describe the
Pakistani players while the Indian players played "Apan ke liye"(bumbayya for
"for oneself"). 

Kapil is said to have become more professional after studying Richard Hadlee's
professional approach. But Kapil's desire to overtake Hadlee's record is no
less intense, despite the respect he has for the great New Zealander. Kapil is
now a part and parcel of the Indian team's management and brains trust, there
is no second word about it, according to Mohan. Ofcourse, how much "brain" is
going into the gameplan is anybody's guess. :--)
 
Thought I'll share these few interesting tidbits with fellow netters. Hope you
enjoyed them.

-Murali