An all-rounder as captain is an advantage: Binny
Stuart feels Watson’s all-round perspective makes him a batsman and bowler’s captain
Rajasthan Royals are a very special team in the IPL. They have had a unique strategy to build their team – a strong leadership base leading and nurturing a group of young, talented cricketers – which they have stuck to since the first season. The leaders have changed and the players too, but the ideology has remained.
The Royals’ class of 2014 is no different, although it is, perhaps, the strongest the RR team has been on paper – an exciting blend of young overseas contingent and some fine domestically experienced Indian hands. The hallmark of this RR side is that they have as many as six genuine all-rounders in their ranks.
We, at iplt20.com, spoke with one of them, one that caught the eye in IPL 2013 and went on to make his debut for India. Stuart Binny told us what makes the Royals lift their game against the stronger opponents and elucidated how they now need to learn to win big moments in a match.
The all-rounder was also elated to have five others of his kind for company in the dressing room and was especially pleased that their captain is one of world’s best all-rounder himself.
Here are excerpts from his interview:
One win, two losses – it could have easily been the opposite, couldn’t it?
For sure. In the last match, we bowled really well to restrict CSK to 140. Unfortunately, our batting didn’t click. We have had a chat especially about how differently we must approach the batting in the coming games.
It was a brilliant bowling performance to restrict the incredibly power-packed CSK batting to 140-odd. Is no pace to hard-hitters the rule of thumb for RR this season?
It is, because the wickets here are not really consistent; they tend to behave a bit up and down. We have played on three different wickets so far and they all have behaved in three different ways. I think we just need to play the situation and the wicket and decide on our bowling strategy.
You have been part of the RR camp since a long time now. What do you think makes you guys punch above your weight each time?
I think it’s about playing smart cricket. In the last match, if you look at the CSK innings, the way we used our bowlers was important. We never kept one bowler for long; I came in to bowl, picked up a wicket and went off the attack. Smart decisions like that make the opposition batsmen think and they cannot line up the bowlers and plan the scoring patterns. I think Watto has been leading from the front in that regard, being very smart in rotating the bowlers.
Do you think the next step for the team is to learn how to seize the big moments in a match?
That’s right. In a T20 match, it all boils down to the last couple of overs. It’s all about thinking clearly at that time. We all prepare well, do our batting and bowling drills. But in the end, whether you win or lose depends on how you hold your nerves during that moment, and we need to learn that. Yes, some of the games will not go our way, but we must keep working on that aspect and learn how to emerge on the right side of pressure situations.
RR have always had inspirational leaders in Warne and Dravid. How about Watson?
He is a vastly experienced guy and has also led his country. What he brings with his captaincy is the all-round perspective to look at things. Since he is an all-rounder himself, he can understand both the batsmen and the bowlers, not only of his own team but also the opposition. When we are in the field, bowling, he can think like a bowler as well as gauge what the batsman is trying to do. When we’re batting, he can read the situation precisely and decide which batsman to send in next. Watson has also been great with some of the younger uncapped guys coming in from other franchises. They have really started to look up to him and I have seen him impart some words of wisdom to these boys. He has taken the responsibility on really admirably.
RR have Watson, Steve Smith, Faulkner, Abhsiek Nayar, Bhatia and yourself. Are you pleased to have so many all-rounders for company?
It is exciting. As an all-rounder, you are always in the game, batting, bowling and fielding. Like batting and bowling, it is good to hunt in a pack as all-rounders too. We generally don’t get too many all-rounders in one team and they say we have a short supply of that breed in this country. So it is really interesting and exciting to have so many all-rounders around in the same team. We become very important in the T20 format where any of us can come in and bowl one over or bat in any position.
How has your experience in international cricket helped you grow you as a cricketer?
To wear the national cap and be part of the World Twenty20 was a special experience and it has just made me a more confident cricketer than I was earlier. I now have the belief in my strengths and I am better equipped to overcome my weaknesses. I didn’t play many games for India but just being part of the mix and observing how everyone went about their business was enlightening. Mahi bhai helped me a lot when it comes to batting in the lower order – when to hit and when to stay, how to plan your attack and pace your innings. I can say that I read the game much better in the death situations now.
The Royals’ class of 2014 is no different, although it is, perhaps, the strongest the RR team has been on paper – an exciting blend of young overseas contingent and some fine domestically experienced Indian hands. The hallmark of this RR side is that they have as many as six genuine all-rounders in their ranks.
We, at iplt20.com, spoke with one of them, one that caught the eye in IPL 2013 and went on to make his debut for India. Stuart Binny told us what makes the Royals lift their game against the stronger opponents and elucidated how they now need to learn to win big moments in a match.
The all-rounder was also elated to have five others of his kind for company in the dressing room and was especially pleased that their captain is one of world’s best all-rounder himself.
Here are excerpts from his interview:
One win, two losses – it could have easily been the opposite, couldn’t it?
For sure. In the last match, we bowled really well to restrict CSK to 140. Unfortunately, our batting didn’t click. We have had a chat especially about how differently we must approach the batting in the coming games.
It was a brilliant bowling performance to restrict the incredibly power-packed CSK batting to 140-odd. Is no pace to hard-hitters the rule of thumb for RR this season?
It is, because the wickets here are not really consistent; they tend to behave a bit up and down. We have played on three different wickets so far and they all have behaved in three different ways. I think we just need to play the situation and the wicket and decide on our bowling strategy.
You have been part of the RR camp since a long time now. What do you think makes you guys punch above your weight each time?
I think it’s about playing smart cricket. In the last match, if you look at the CSK innings, the way we used our bowlers was important. We never kept one bowler for long; I came in to bowl, picked up a wicket and went off the attack. Smart decisions like that make the opposition batsmen think and they cannot line up the bowlers and plan the scoring patterns. I think Watto has been leading from the front in that regard, being very smart in rotating the bowlers.
Do you think the next step for the team is to learn how to seize the big moments in a match?
That’s right. In a T20 match, it all boils down to the last couple of overs. It’s all about thinking clearly at that time. We all prepare well, do our batting and bowling drills. But in the end, whether you win or lose depends on how you hold your nerves during that moment, and we need to learn that. Yes, some of the games will not go our way, but we must keep working on that aspect and learn how to emerge on the right side of pressure situations.
RR have always had inspirational leaders in Warne and Dravid. How about Watson?
He is a vastly experienced guy and has also led his country. What he brings with his captaincy is the all-round perspective to look at things. Since he is an all-rounder himself, he can understand both the batsmen and the bowlers, not only of his own team but also the opposition. When we are in the field, bowling, he can think like a bowler as well as gauge what the batsman is trying to do. When we’re batting, he can read the situation precisely and decide which batsman to send in next. Watson has also been great with some of the younger uncapped guys coming in from other franchises. They have really started to look up to him and I have seen him impart some words of wisdom to these boys. He has taken the responsibility on really admirably.
RR have Watson, Steve Smith, Faulkner, Abhsiek Nayar, Bhatia and yourself. Are you pleased to have so many all-rounders for company?
It is exciting. As an all-rounder, you are always in the game, batting, bowling and fielding. Like batting and bowling, it is good to hunt in a pack as all-rounders too. We generally don’t get too many all-rounders in one team and they say we have a short supply of that breed in this country. So it is really interesting and exciting to have so many all-rounders around in the same team. We become very important in the T20 format where any of us can come in and bowl one over or bat in any position.
How has your experience in international cricket helped you grow you as a cricketer?
To wear the national cap and be part of the World Twenty20 was a special experience and it has just made me a more confident cricketer than I was earlier. I now have the belief in my strengths and I am better equipped to overcome my weaknesses. I didn’t play many games for India but just being part of the mix and observing how everyone went about their business was enlightening. Mahi bhai helped me a lot when it comes to batting in the lower order – when to hit and when to stay, how to plan your attack and pace your innings. I can say that I read the game much better in the death situations now.
No comments:
Post a Comment