INTERVIEW WITH SACHIN

"I HATE FACING AN IRREGULAR BOWLER"

Q.How do you chose a bat?
A-To me the shape is very important.The bat must be thick,have more meat
near the bottom,there should be rounded kind of blade.I don't like slim,flat
blade.I want power in my shots.So the blade should be thick and strong.

Q.How heavy a bat do you use?
A-Earlier I was playing with a bat that wieghed two pounds and 12 ounces but
now i prefer a slightly lighter bat,maybe two pounds 10 or so.But that is
still heavier than the bats that other players use in the Indian team.

Q.Why do you use such a heavy bat?
A-I am just used to heavy bat.I feel comfortable with it.Moreover I think it
helps when playing the ball on the up and forcing it in the front of the
wicket.

Q.How many grips do you use on the handle of the bat?
A-I use three,the thick handle gives me a better grip and feel.I feel
comfortable and that is important because feel is very crucial.

Q.What about the balance and the grains in the willow?
A-In a bat,the feel is the most important factor.You pick up a bat,hold it
in your hand and straightaway know whether it is right or wrong.Balance is
something personal.I like the bottom to be a bit heavy.For me grains are not
an important consideration,there are various theories about the grain-for
eg. some feel if they are closer together the bat breaks faster-but I don't
worry about these things.I have played various makes in my career,as long it
suits me it is fine.

Q.How many bats do you use in a season?
A-It depends.There was one bat which I used for about two and a half
years,it lasted till the begining of the last World Cup.I used to clean it
regularly myself,it was heavily taped and every time I removed the tape,the
chips would come off the blade.I would then carefully rearrange each
piece,put a lot of superglue on the blade and stick back each piece one by
one,then bind it up with tape once again,it was a very good bat and I made
lots of runs with it.

Q.How do your bats normally break?From the bottom?
A-Yes,usually.You mistime a shot and if it is near the bottom there is a
danger of developing a crack.Sometimes the handle gives way,near the
splice.The edges are all right,you might chip the outside edge,depending on
how you play,but that is all right.I usually try and save my better bats,I
don't use them in the nets.I don't want to risk my match bat while
practising at the nets.

Q.What kind of shoes do you use?
A-I have always played with half spikes,with metal studs round the toes and
rubber studs otherwise,even while feilding,I have never used the usual ankle
high,full sipkes which bowlers need.

Q.What about pads,chest guards,other equipment?
A-I prefer the light weight morrant pads.I have played with them for
long,the ball hits the pads and the ball goes off,you can easily get a leg
bye.The ball doesn't drop dead,it travels off the pad.I normally don't use
chest guards.In Australia for a few innings I played with them because I had
an injury and did not risk getting hit in the rib area.Otherwise I don't use
them.

Q.Your bottomhanded grip is quite unusual,how did you work that out?
A-I started with that grip from the begining,it came naturally to me and I
think it suited my style of batting.I like to attack the bowling,to dominate
and play shots and for that the grip is correct.In cricket there are more
shots with the right hand near the bottom of the handle.Initially the coach
tried to change this but he too realised that this grip was working for me
and he let me play with my natural style.I think from the begining my
batting,in terms of technique or style,has not changed,except for some
adjustments I have always played the same way.

Q.While tackling pace you don't use the normal back and across movement?
A-No I don't.I instead I am trying to get on to the front foot at the first
opportunity so that I can play through line and hit on the up.But if the
ball is short then I get into line by moving across the crease or by getting
my body behind the ball.If there is a chance then I am ready for the
cut.Actually this back and across movement depends on the wicket,it's bounce
and pace and the kind of bowling.If the bowler's are not really quick,if I
am playing against Sri Lanka,then there is no need for that.I prefer to get
forward,even in England where the ball is supposed to seam.My game is
centered round that.

Q.At the begining of your inings,do you tell yourself not to cut or pull?
A-Not really because I prefer to keep an open mind and play according to the
conditions.Sometimes you have to be more careful,otherwise it is best to
play your natural game and not complicate things.

Q.Is there any shot that you find difficult to play?
A-Nothing in particular.But the thing is that I like to attack so there is
always a chance that I will make a mistake and get out.To the extent the
bowler has a fair chance of dismissing me.

Q.Have you deliberately kept a shot on hold?
A-Nothing specific,I play all shots and there is no really glaring weakness
or mistake in my bating.But there are many things which go wrong from time
to time and one tries to correct them.

Q.What flaws do you see in your batting?
A-There are many,and while you correct one,the mistakes creep in so you have
to be always alert and keep working things out.

Q.How do you work things out,talk to others,practise in the nets?
A-I discuss a lot with my brother,he is very critical and at the same time
gives me very good advice.After he sees me commit a mistake he tells me what
I am doing wrong.He understands my game so it is very helpful talking to him
and getting his opinion.I also go to other people for advice.

Q.Like who?
A-I keep going to Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.I have gone to
Kapilpaaji(Kapil Dev) and asked him.Many other people come and tell me
things on their own.

Q.You mean people have courage to walk up to Sachin Tendulkar and give him
tips on batting?
A-Yes,a lot of people come and tell me you are doing this wrong and this
right,you should bat like this.

Q.How do you react to this?
A-I listen to them.Many times they are saying the right thing.

Q.Is there any particular kind of bowler who is a problem?
A-I hate facing an irregular bowler,it affects my concentration.Otherwise I
don't have any difficulty with any kind of bowling.

Q.How do you adjust to a bad track?
A-I think it a great skill to cope with a bad track where the ball is doing
things,turning a lot or bouncing inconsistently.A batsman must be able to
play on the rise,and attacking needs a hard surface where the ball comes on
nicely but even on a bad track.I'd like to attack and play my normal
game,within the demands of the game and situation.The point is why just for
an unplayable ball to come.You have to take chances,force the bowler to try
something else,keep him on the backfoot.Let him also do some thinking and
adjust his bowling; otherwise he stays on the top and dictates terms.But
specially made wickets for bowlers are not good for the game,the track
should be equal for a good contest.

Q.Do you count your runs while batting?
A-Earlier I used to.Now I keep looking at the scoreboard to see how I am
doing.

Q.How much difference does a white ball make to batting?
A-It can be a major factor because in the begining it swings more.Later it
goes soft and it is difficult to hit so batsmen find it difficult to time
their shots.

Q.With long-on and long-off in place,would you still try and clear the
field?
A-It depends on the situation and the wicket and how I am playing.If the
timing is right and the wicket is hard I'd go over the top.I don't worry
about the fielders because if I make proper contact the ball will clear
them.

"IT'S BETTER TO PLAY OUT , AND SURVIVE A GOOD SPELL"

Q.Does the enormous expectation of making runs each time you play become a
burden?
A-I realise that people expect me to do well all the time,everybody follow
cricket closely in India and they all want us to win.I realise my
responsibilty and I try to do the best I can but I don't think of it too
much in the sense I don't let it weigh on my mind or let it bother me.If
that happens it would only add to the pressure and perhaps affect my
performance.
What is most important to me that I try and live upto my own
expectations and perform to my potential.If I can do justice to that I think
I would have done a good a job.There is this feeling within me of doing
well,of performing consistency and if I can achieve these standards then I
think things will be alright
.

Q.What is your normal schedule before an important game?
A-I dont't have a set schedule.I want a session at the net.The feeling of
the ball hitting the middle of the bat is very nice, it gives you confidence
and prepares you for the match.Otherwise I don't have a routine apart from
getting good rest the night before so that I feel strong and fresh in the
morning.
I also visualise what is likely to happen in the match in a particular
situation and what I should do in that situation.From experience you know
about the bowlers,their strenghts,their methods so you prepare according to
what you are likely to be up against.Very often I go through this while
looking at the wicket.

Q.Do you get the feeling,on looking at a good wicket,that you can get a
hundred?
A-At times you get the feeling that runs will come on a nice surface but you
still have to go out there and make the runs.The runs don't come on their
own,it does not happen easily.The wicket may suit you but it is not so
simple.

Q.Suppose you were playing Pakistan,then would you go through your mistakes
you made against men like Wasin Akram or Waqar Younis?
A-Yes,definately.I remember my mistakes against them,and the idea is not to
repeat those mistakes.

Q.You actually remember your each dismissal?
A-I remember each and every test dismissal.I can tell you how I got out in
any test,any innings.I can tell you the bowler,mode of dismissal from my
test innings onwards.I clearly remember how I got out.Everytime.

Q.Do you also watch your videos and those of bowlers?
A-Not really,but I do see some of my innings and learn a lot from that.It is
easy to realise what you are doing wrong.

Q.What do you do on the morning of the match?
A-Again,nothing special.We are at the ground early,then every one goes
through the routine physical training,stretching and fielding.Once this is
over I like to knock for a while,hit a few balls,that's it.

Q.Do you or not watch play when it starts?
A-Yes.I watch closely to get an idea about what the bowlers and wicket are
doing.That way you have a better idea of what is happening.But if the wait
to get in becomes long,I keep moving around,watching now and then.There are
some players who prefer not to look at all but it hepls me to see how things
are from the pavilion itself.

Q.Are you nervous?
A-Ofcourse,everybody is nervous before a match and before and before going
in.Infact this nervousness is good thing because it charges you,gets you
more focussed and helps in concentration.But nervousness is there only till
I go in; Once in the middle I just think about the bowler and the
bowling,nothing else.
But I remember my first test; There I was in the middle,absolutely
blank,very nervous,I really did not know what was happening.Wasim Akram was
bowling very fast.I think he bowled four bouncers in-a-row.It was very tough
and I thought I was not going to play Test cricket again.At times I was
beaten by pace,the ball went past my bat before I could complete my shot.I
made 15,then a half century in the next match.After that test I don't
remember being troubled by pace much.

Q.Have struggled for runs in a test?
A-Yes. I remember a test in South Africa on the previous tour when in a full
session till lunch I made just 11 runs in tow hours and even in that there
was a square cut for four off Allan Donald.The South Africans kept bowling
outside offstump,I had to leave the ball and there were no scoring
opportunities.That must be my slowest stay at the wicket.

Q.Doesn't cricket involve too much of tension?
A-Yes, it does.Everyone at home gets very tensed,my wife does.

Q.How do you react to sledging?Or are others too scared to sledge you?
A-It does not happen very much.Earlier it happened more,now people don't
try.Many years ago Atul Wassan went round the wicket and bowled bouncers,he
also had a lot to say as I was close to my century.I just kept quiet,left
all the bouncers and waited for my hundred.Then after making it I let him
have it.

Q.With bat or mouth?
A-Both

Q.Faced by a tough spell in a Test Match,what do you do?
A-At that point the imporatant thing is survival.You know the bowler will
bowl only a certain number of overs so you decide to do nothing extra and
somehow just play out the spell.You can't do much in these situations except
survive and play out those seven or eight overs.In this your body language
is important,your bearing can tell everything to the bowler so you should
not show your fear to the bowler.

Q.Given a choice when would you like to go in to bat-at 10/2 or 170/2?
A-Certainly 10/2 because that situation is more chalenging,the bowling is on
the top and I would try and counter attack and revive the initiative.The
other situation means you have remained padded up in the dressing room for
long,waiting for your turn,the bowling is not too strong,it is an easy
situation.

"THERE IS NO MAGIC FROMULA FOR SUCCESS"

Q.On being dismissed, are you in a bad mood.wanting to be left alone?
A-No,I 'm alright.sometimes I get angry but otherwise I am normal.Some
players like to be left alone,they sit and think about what has happened but
I have no special habits.

Q.When you make a terrible mistake has any one given you a sound dressing
down?
A-Yes,people have told me.I also realise my mistakes and accept the blame.

Q.Over the years you must have recived a fair number of bad decisions?
A-Yes,that happens.On the 1992 tour of SouthAfrica,I was batting against
Schultz.The ball went off my right thigh,but the umpire declared me out
caught behind.Ravi Shastri was the non striker,he threw the bat down,later
the umpire realised his mistake,came and apologised to me in the dressing
room.On the 1996 tour of England,I was again given leg before when,in a
one-day match,the ball was so much down the leg side it would hit the
seventh stump.I was really striking the ball well but got a poor decision.

Q.What about good decisions when you get away?
A-That also happens.Sometimes you get the benefit.

Q.But are umpires not too scared to give a top player like you out unless
they are more than sure,more so because his career depends on good reports
from you?
A-Yes,sometimes players get away.It happens.I have never given umpires bad
reports on such things but some umpires can be linient to the big players.In
a Duleep Trophy match against Jamshedpur,I think I had Kapilpaaji(kapil dev)
out caught behind.It was a big edge but he shook his head and did not
leave,the umpire wouldn't give him out.I just laughed and said "Paaji jao"
(you're out and you gotta go)

Q.How much of tonic is victory for a team?
A-It is difficult to describe the joy of victory,it is
unbelievable,absolutely fantastic.For example in Dhaka I shouted so much I
almost lost my voice.A win is just the tonic the team needs,it gives
everyone confidence,even in tight situations you can tell yourself that what
ever the odds the impossible is possble.

Q.As a child were you a complete cricket fanatic?
A-I liked to play all the time.I used to look forward to the time I'd be
able to go to practise and play.Very often I'd be out of the house early in
the morning and then practise twice in a day,attend school in between and
then return late.Once during the summer break I remember I played almost 50
matches at a stretch,the physical strain was such that I fell ill.But I was
in a group and we all played all the time and enjoyed ourselves.

Q.Did you chase players for autograph?
A-No I did not.My brother maintained a scrap book,we all knew about the main
players and followed cricket but I was more interested in playing.I don't
think I watched too many matches,unlike other boys I was not very good at
remembering the statistics or records of players.

Q.You did not take anyone's autograph?
A-When I played Ranji Trophy for Mumbai,Dilip Vengsarkar presented me a Gunn
and Moore bat,I asked him to autograph it.

Q.Does Sachin Tendulkar miss normal life?
A-I lead a normal life.I am used to this for a long time and the way I live
is pretty normal.All the attention I get through cricket is a part of my
life.I understand that cricket is my life,I work hard,concentrate on my game
and try and perform well.I don't have time for anythig else,cricket is full
time,and anyway this is what I want to do.

Q.Is the constant media attention an intrusion?
A-It is because of the tremendous interest people have cricket in India.But
when the media writes about non cricket aspects I don't take
notice.Sometimes it creats a misunderstanding,they write about things that
did not happen....non existent differences are projected which is not true.

Q.What else would you do is there was no cricket?
A-I can't imagine myself without cricket,but if I wasn't a cricketer I would
surely be in some other sport.

Q.Do you follow other sports?
A-Yes,specially tennis.I played some tennis earlier and I like Becker and
Sampras.Soccer also but I don't understand it.I enjoy watching maradona
though.

Q.Which cricketer would you like to watch?
A-Jonty Rodes.I enjoy his fielding,he is superb.Also he does it so naturally
and gives the impression he is saving a great time.Nobody can match his
anticipation and speed in the field.

Q.Who else?
A-I'd prefer to watch attacking cricket not someone who is just blocking and
playing defensively.Someone like Jayasuriya-he has great power and an
ability to dominate and destroy any bowling.

Q.Finally,how would you describe your batting?
A-As an attacking player who likes to take on the bowlers.While doing this
you have to take chances,specially in one-dayers where it is not enough to
play according to the merits of the ball.Infact very often your success
depends on not treating the ball on it's merits.

Q.What advise would you give youngsters wanting to play like Sachin
Tendulkar?
A-I don't know what to say except that you must play according to your own
style,everyone has a different method,what works for one may not work for
others,also you must be honest,to yourself in terms of hard work and
dedication,and honest to the game.
Try sincerely,there is no magic formula for success,it depends on so
many factors like skill,opportunity,destiny.Apart form this,I really have no
advise to give.