Murray on a quot;goodwill huntquot;

AHMEDABAD, April 2: When the Aussies take on Zimbabwe in the triangular one-day series here today, the opening line for many Aussies on seei...

AHMEDABAD, April 2: When the Aussies take on Zimbabwe in the triangular one-day series here today, the opening line for many Aussies on seeing Zimbabwe8217;s Murray Goodwin would be quot;Think I have met you before.quot; For Goodwin went to Australia as a 13-year-old, got his cricketing education at the Australian Cricketing Academy, played for Western Australia but now plays against a team for which he once dreamed of playing.

The cynics may call him a turncoat, but Goodwin puts to rest the argument saying, quot;There was hardly a choice, playing as one of the top four batsman for a international side was any day better than playing at number six for Western Australia.quot; For the young all-rounder the hard part was leaving Australia and not returning to Zimbabwe. quot;As I had grown up with most of the team members who play for Zimbabwe today and we had been in touch all through those years, getting back was no problem,quot; he says.

Along with the luggage he brought along an attitude to Zimbabwe which he had picked up from theacademy in Australia. quot;The famous Aussie determination has been a great help for me in many of the matches I played.quot;

And Zimbabwe will be hoping that this attitude rubs on the rest today considering the dismal record they have against Australia. In the last eight games the two have played, Australia has won all of them.

About his international career so far, he says though he is happy he would have loved if he had been able to convert more of his fifties into hundreds. And the figures of the recent series against Pakistan at home amply prove it. He scored 53 and 81 not out in the two Tests while he made 35 and 47 in the two One-Day Internationals.

Goodwin has played along with or against most of the Australians but has faced the famed Aussie leggie Shane Warne only once. quot;That was at the WACA ground, but here things will be different.quot; He also has once played for Western Australia against Zimbabwe in a tour game when the latter toured Australia. On the serious disrespect the India batsmen have shownthe famous leggie, he said, quot;The Indians are good players of spin bowling moreover they are at ease with the wicket and conditions. Warne in Australia will be a totally different proposition.quot;

It8217;s more of a quot;goodwill huntquot;, a hunt he will relish and renew. And where he holds an upper hand since some time ago he was one of them.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More