HYDERABAD: Preparing sporting wickets in domestic tournaments is the need of the hour. Flat pitches would not help the Indian players as they will be exposed in places like Australia, England or South Africa. This was the observation of Mumbai captain Wasim Jaffer, who became the overall highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy when he eased past his former teammate Amol Muzumdar’s 8,242 runs. Having played for 15 years, making his first class debut in the 1996-97 season, the seasoned-campaigner Jaffer has the experience and the runs to talk about Indian cricket and wickets.
Jaffer, who played 31 Tests in which he struck two double centuries, said it was sad to see a flat pitch being prepared for a premier tournament final like Ranji Trophy. “The curators have to produce result-oriented wickets where in it will help the batsmen and the bowlers alike. The BCCI had given instructions for preparation of sporting wickets in domestic cricket two years ago but I don’t know what happened after that,” he said.
The doughty opener who has played over 200 first-class matches and scored 15,081 runs at an average of 50.60 with 44 centuries and 73 fifties, said by preparing sporting wickets, it would help the batsmen to improve their skills. “It is a different cup of tea while playing on the bouncy and seaming wickets in Australia, South Africa or England. As the Indian players are used to playing on flat wickets, it takes time to adjust to those conditions while touring to these places. And if we have sporting wickets in India, the batsmen can also improve their skills and be better prepared while touring these places,” said the 33-year-old cricketer.
Jaffer said it was a great feeling to get past Muzumdar’s record. “He (Amol) was one of the unlucky cricketers not to play for the country. It gives me special feeling. Ranji Trophy cricket is always special to me as it is one of the most competitive tournament in the country. There is also a sense of pride while playing for your state. Therefore, there was sense of satisfaction when I became the highest run-getter.”
A lot has changed ever since he made his first appearance for Mumbai Ranji team in the nineties. “We use to have zonal matches and then the knock-out matches. But it is different now. The format has been changed for good. We get to play five or six league matches and then the knock-out phase. A team has to win ten matches to emerge champions. It is a good idea where the players get more opportunities. But the only flaw there is hardly any rest for the players. A little more thinking should go into drawing a better itinerary. It is a busy calendar after the advent of IPL.”
On whether tournaments like IPL and other Twenty20 cricket spoil a young cricketer, Jaffer said things have changed in modern day cricket. “There is a definite change in approach to the game now. The batsmen have become more adventurous and as a result sometimes you find a quick hundred in a four-day game. However, for me scoring a hundred in four-day cricket gives me more satisfaction than scoring in Twenty20 cricket.”
Jaffer has lamented the decline of good quality spinners while at the same time seen the rise of fast bowlers in Indian cricket. “But where are the spinners? I think it is one of the sad part. With the advent of T20 cricket, the spinners are not willing to flight the ball. It is an art and needs hard work at the nets.”
Although he felt satisfied to play 31 Tests, Jaffer thought he could have played more for India. “I could have played a few more Tests. I had two double centuries and when I could not score in Australia (in 2007-08), I never got a chance to make a comeback into the Indian team,” he said, adding, “It is always difficult to make a comeback. You have to score heavily to stage a comeback into the team.”
His best moments were when he played for Mumbai and led to Ranji Trophy triumph for two successive years in 2008-09 and 2009-10 season. “I was honoured to lead the Mumbai team. It was the year when I was dropped from the Indian team and had likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan playing that season. We had talented players like Rohit Sharma. It is always a challenge to lead the Mumbai side.”
On hopes of yet another comeback into the Indian team, Jaffer was optimistic. “I will keep on playing for Mumbai as long as I keep myself motivated. But I don’t know whether I would play for India again or not,” he signed off.