The Hindu : Kirmani stumped by selectors' decision

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 28, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Kirmani stumped by selectors' decision

By S. Dinakar

Syed Kirmani

Chennai May 27.

Syed Kirmani is an angry man these days and with good reasons too. The India `A' side to tour England from June, rather shockingly, contains just one specialist wicketkeeper. And Kirmani simply cannot understand the logic behind the move.

"I might sound critical but this is not correct. It is demoralising to the youngsters and it is sad. It is a thankless job and the wicketkeepers are a neglected lot,'' fumed India's finest gloveman ever in an exclusive interview to The Hindu, here on Monday.

While Kirmani is pleased about Parthiv Patel figuring in the team, he is puzzled at the absence of Ajay Ratra. "What wrong has he done bhai?'' asks Kirmani.

"He is a sound wicketkeeper, has come through the ranks having played for the various age-group India sides apart from India `A' and he has done well in international cricket. Don't forget he has a Test hundred in the West Indies.''

Such a scenario, where there is just one wicketkeeper to do duty for the side during an entire tour, will send the wrong signals, feels Kimani who is not the kind to hold back his views. "Are you trying to protect the lone 'keeper by not exposing him to any competition, or are you trying to close his chapter in case he gets injured?''

"Why can't these two boys (Parthiv and Ratra) be together on a tour? Let there be a healthy competition between the two. This way the first choice 'keeper will also not become complacent either,'' observes Kirmani.

He pulls out an example from the past to cement his argument. "When we toured England in '71 under Ajit Wadekar, there were three wicketkeepers in the squad — Farokh Engineer, P. Krishnamurthy and myself. I picked up quite a lot on that tour.''

Two specialist wicketkeepers are a must on any campaign, opines Kirmani, who is in Chennai to coach the boys and girls of the J.K. & Thejas Cricket Academy. "On one hand, we say good wicketkeepers are not coming through and then we don't pick encouraging young talent. There is no dearth of youngsters with talent, promise and skill. We have to notice, identify and groom them.''

This `grooming process,' he believes, is extremely essential for a wicketkeeper. "Adam Gilchrist is the No. 1 wicketkeeper in the world apart from being an explosive bat. But, you mustn't forget that he spent considerable time as an understudy to Ian Healy. I myself was under Engineer for quite some time and I only learnt and improved. You cannot make somebody who is appearing for a Class X examination sit for B. Com papers. He might still adjust but that's not the right way.''

Kirmani is of the opinion that Parthiv, Ratra, Thilak Naidu and Vijay Dahiya should be rotated during the India and `A' tours. "Among the present crop these four are the best. Parthiv has a lot of promise and talent. He is also very fortunate to have received a chance so early without having to go through the grind of the domestic competitions. He should make the most of it.''

Kirmani went on: "Ratra is also a qualified, sound wicketkeeper with the ability to bat. He must be frustrated at the treatment he has received. Dahiya, who can also be an effective bat, was not given a fair run. Thilak was recommended by Rodney Marsh to the Australian Cricket Academy. He is a neat gloveman and a good striker of the ball.''

Not surprisingly, Kirmani is firmly against the idea of makeshift wicketkeepers even for the ODIs. "Are bhai, the 'keeper is the most important man on the field, he is the fulcrum of the side. There can be no compromises on that.''

Counter-productive move

The move to field batsmen-wicketkeepers, he points out, is counter-productive. "I can tell you that the bowlers will not have the confidence in him and this will affect their line, length and variations. We have to look into all aspects.''

Kirmani furthers his argument — "If six specialist batsmen cannot do the job, what can a seventh accomplish? Even if he succeeds, it is a matter of sheer coincidence." In other words, the idea betrays cricketing sense.

The selectors should first look for wicketkeeping skills in a youngster. While batting is important these days, it is only "a bonus,'' according to him. Kirmani, a natural wicketkeeper, was an effective late middle-order batsman who often thrived in crisis situations.

He is pained that true recognition is not forthcoming in his own country. "You know, the No. 1s — Rodney Marsh, Allan Knott and Bob Taylor — regarded me as the No. 1. I can show you the letter written to me by Marsh.''

Though Kirmani doesn't put it in words, he appears hurt that non-Indian wicketkeepers are often invited to coach the aspirants when he is still around.

Here is a man who was adjudged the `best wicketkeeper' of the '83 World Cup where Kapil's Devils stunned the world. The adjudicator was none other than Sir Godfrey Evans, a wicketkeeping legend. "I still have the silver glove with a ball on it. There were some fine wicketkeepers in that World Cup and it was a privilege to receive the award.''

The dazzling `Kiri bhai' also set a World Cup record during the '83 edition in England. "I was the first man to have five victims in a World Cup match, against Zimbabwe. That was a great competition for the team and me.''

The fact that Kirmani kept wickets to Bhagwat Chandrasekar, Erapalli Prassana and Bishan Singh Bedi made his feats awesome. "Standing up to the spinners is the real test. And I consider the three as the best ever in their respective fields. Each one was different. Each one had so many tricks. It was a real challenge but I enjoyed it.''

Breathtaking effort

J.K. Mahendra, who travelled with Kirmani to England in '67 in what was the first overseas tour by an Indian schoolboys team, remembers a glorious vignette from the days gone by. "I can never forget Kirmani standing up to Chandrasekar on a matting wicket during a Ranji game at Calicut. You know the kind of bounce Chandra can extract even on placid tracks and he was simply unplayable on matting. Kirmani did not make a single mistake. It was a breathtaking sight.''

Indeed, the supremely fit Kirmani could make the most difficult of `takes' or catches appear ridiculously simple. So smooth were his movements, so uncanny was his anticipation.

When such an accomplished person in his field goes on record stating that the wicketkeepers in the country are being treated shabbily, the men who matter better take notice.

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