‘Money’s like manure, it’s no good until it’s spread’

The essence of cricket is Test matches; I’ve always believed that one-day cricket is like fast food but since it’s a money-spinner, most boards cram the schedule with one-dayers.

Just like in chess or in life, it’s forethought that wins. I don’t think the Indian board has the vision to think on these lines. However, it will be a good idea for the team to reach South Africa 2-3 weeks in advance to get into the groove.

Why have we failed to produce spinners after Bishen Singh Bedi and BS Chandrasekhar? Raj Walia

The influx of ODIs has had a dramatic impact on the approach towards the modern game. Spinners now bowl mostly in a defensive mould; gone are the days when a spinner could flight the ball and entice the batsmen. If he concedes eight runs in an over the captain will look to change him.

As for India not producing bowler-friendly pitches, I am really baffled as to why a board which is loaded with money, (I always say they are like a vessel which leaks from the top) has failed to address such an important aspect of Indian cricket.

Money is like manure, it is no good until spread. What would it take to make 10-15 evenly competitive pitches in India?

Your ‘Sidhuisms’ have become famous all over the world. Will you be coming out with a compilation— with a foreword written by Geoffrey Boycott? George J Coelho

Fame and adulation comes by the grace of God. I feel dwarfed by mere comparisons with such greats. Though there have been several offers to write a book, I have shelved the idea for now. Whenever it gets published, the context in which I set my ‘Sidhuism’ will be the most important aspect of the book.

Having Geoffrey write the foreword is a great idea. He’s one of the best commentators in world cricket and I have adored him for his forthright attitude and ability to call a spade a spade. Such personalities are indeed rare.

One of our biggest problems is our inability to produce fast bowlers. Do we have a programme for this? Do we have fast pitches to support their training? Rajev Shah

We are bred on dead-as-dodo pitches; fast bowling potential may exist in villages or on the streets but the perennial problem exists because we also lack proper talent-tapping schemes.

Unlike Pakistan, any genuine quick bowler in India has to go through the rigour of the domestic circuit. Their fast bowlers have come up because nobody dares to change their style while in India, the originality is moulded and tampered. Sandeep Sharma and Rajinder Ghei are good examples.

I think the pitches in Mumbai and Mohali are probably the only ones providing congenial conditions for fast bowling.

Being an opener yourself, what is one advice you can give Wasim Jaffer? Satish Panicker

He has failed to adapt to seaming conditions because in India the ball does not deviate and it’s easy to play on the up. Because of the extra movement in English conditions, one has to look to go forward to nullify the swing and play as late as possible and as close to the body. Jaffer, on the other hand, has been wooden-legged and failed to negotiate the swing on the front foot. He is just reaching for the delivery rather than allowing the ball to come to him and playing it late. He is also playing too far away from the body. But he is too good a talent to fail for a long time.