Viru bats for bowlers
Mirror Sports Bureau
Says banning bouncers will take fun out of game, hopes for World Cup recall.
Virender Sehwag is a batsman but yesterday he stood up for the bowlers. The India discard declared that ICC should not consider banning the bouncers. “It will take the fun out of the system,” he said. The remark, obviously, comes in the wake of the tragic death of Philip Hughes.
He dwelt on the element of fun in the game and said cricket will turn into a batsman’s game if the bouncers are banned. “If you cut out the bouncers, then there is no fun. Then it's a batsman's game. I don't think the ICC should do that,” Sehwag said.
Sehwag himself was stuck on his helmet several times. “I have been hit a lot of times on my helmet. If you remove bouncers, then perhaps the weapon that bowlers have will be over. Then cricket won't be that interesting,” the Delhi batsman said.
World Cup hopes
It's been close to two years since he has been out of the national team but the veteran opener is hopeful that selectors would consider him in the 30-member probables list for the World Cup.
“I hope that my name appears among the probables. Every cricketer wants to play in the World Cup. I still dream and hope that I play in this World Cup,” Sehwag, who has played the 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions, said.
On India's chances in the competition, Sehwag seemed confident that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will retain the Cup. “We won the trophy in 2011. I think we have the capability to retain it in 2015. We have a good team. They are playing good cricket in the ODI format. I believe that we can defend it,” the out-offavour opener said.
Sehwag feels that since Indian team will be there in Australia for the Test as well as tri-series, there won't be any problems adjusting to the conditions. “I think all the players, who will go to the World Cup, they would have already played Tests and triangular series before the start of the World Cup. So they will get used to the conditions,” Sehwag said.
The swashbuckling batsman feels that it's good that the World Cup is being held in Australia as it's the best place to play cricket.
“Australia is the best place to play cricket. You get good fast pitches with bounce, and the ball comes nicely on to the bat. You will enjoy batting as well as bowling in these conditions.”
Asked if the teams would have to adjust a lot in Australia and New Zealand, he said, “The wickets are similar, they are not different. In the World Cup, you will get good wickets to bat and bowl on.
"You will get true wickets for the game. I don't think there will be any problem for any team or any problem to adjust.”
Says banning bouncers will take fun out of game, hopes for World Cup recall.
Virender Sehwag is a batsman but yesterday he stood up for the bowlers. The India discard declared that ICC should not consider banning the bouncers. “It will take the fun out of the system,” he said. The remark, obviously, comes in the wake of the tragic death of Philip Hughes.
Sehwag, who was speaking at a World Cup-related promotional event in the city yesterday, was quite philosophic about Hughes’s death. “It is part of cricketing life. If you are playing any sport, injuries will come your way,” he said adding, “It was very sad that Phil died in such a way, hitting the pull shot and got hit on his head. May be you can die also, but you have an option to duck it (bouncer). So it is up to you as a batsman.”
He dwelt on the element of fun in the game and said cricket will turn into a batsman’s game if the bouncers are banned. “If you cut out the bouncers, then there is no fun. Then it's a batsman's game. I don't think the ICC should do that,” Sehwag said.
Sehwag himself was stuck on his helmet several times. “I have been hit a lot of times on my helmet. If you remove bouncers, then perhaps the weapon that bowlers have will be over. Then cricket won't be that interesting,” the Delhi batsman said.
World Cup hopes
It's been close to two years since he has been out of the national team but the veteran opener is hopeful that selectors would consider him in the 30-member probables list for the World Cup.
“I hope that my name appears among the probables. Every cricketer wants to play in the World Cup. I still dream and hope that I play in this World Cup,” Sehwag, who has played the 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions, said.
On India's chances in the competition, Sehwag seemed confident that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will retain the Cup. “We won the trophy in 2011. I think we have the capability to retain it in 2015. We have a good team. They are playing good cricket in the ODI format. I believe that we can defend it,” the out-offavour opener said.
Sehwag feels that since Indian team will be there in Australia for the Test as well as tri-series, there won't be any problems adjusting to the conditions. “I think all the players, who will go to the World Cup, they would have already played Tests and triangular series before the start of the World Cup. So they will get used to the conditions,” Sehwag said.
The swashbuckling batsman feels that it's good that the World Cup is being held in Australia as it's the best place to play cricket.
“Australia is the best place to play cricket. You get good fast pitches with bounce, and the ball comes nicely on to the bat. You will enjoy batting as well as bowling in these conditions.”
Asked if the teams would have to adjust a lot in Australia and New Zealand, he said, “The wickets are similar, they are not different. In the World Cup, you will get good wickets to bat and bowl on.
"You will get true wickets for the game. I don't think there will be any problem for any team or any problem to adjust.”
