‘Good openers are imperative in Australia’

He has a great record in one-day cricket and there’s no reason to be critical of him there. In Tests, he will always have a problem because his technique is not special. What he’s got is great hand-eye coordination, timing and a big heart. So he’ll make runs, but not as many as in one-dayers.

But with the Australian tour coming up, won’t Ganguly’s frailties be a handicap for the team?
A: I don’t think he will bat until number five. The game will be set by then. I think what will hurt India more is that you don’t have good opening batsmen. Good bats up the order are absolutely imperative to tackle bowlers like McGrath, Lee and Gillespie in Australia.

We have tried out a number of openers recently. Don’t you see anyone who can do the job?
A: From what I have seen, they leave a lot to be desired. You can get away with certain flaws in India, but not in international cricket. Unless you find a way of blunting the new ball, there’s no chance in Australia. I am not sure the Sehwag-Bangar option is ideal. You want the opener to take the shine off the ball and give you a good start.

Don’t you think we have a slightly better chance now because of our new ball attack, which is far better than before?
A: Zaheer seems to be bowling well. But what’s happened to Nehra? I told him a year back that he’s not very good unless he can get on the field. Seems he gets too many injuries. That doesn’t help. Srinath’s gone, which is unfortunate. You need more. You get away with everything in India, which won’t happen elsewhere.

Boycs for Kolkata puja

Boycott loves Indian cricket and the Indian public loves him back. He’s been out of the picture for a year-and-a-half and the treatment for cancer has left him visibly weak. But he promises to be back, saying, ‘‘I’ll commentate in the Test and ODI series in Australia if I am all right. I’m still not 100 per cent so I don’t want to get into full-time commentating just yet. I get a bit tired. Australia would be the right time.’’ But before that, Boycs will be seen as part of the new ESPN show with Harsha Bhogle and Saurav Ganguly. For the next edition, he travels to Kolkata to shoot in Ganguly’s home with the Durga Puja as the backdrop: ‘‘Next Monday we are going to Ganguly’s house in Kolkata to shoot at the puja in their house. I don’t know anything about it and it’s supposed to be great. I want to see the puja. So it’ll be a good place to return to cricket.’’ (PTI)

What about guys like Yuvraj and Kaif — do you see them moving into Tests and making a mark?
A: They are exceptionally good. In one-dayers you have a fantastic team. But I don’t see them moving to the Test team. There is a huge difference between what is expected of you in the late middle order of a one-day team and Test matches. I think Kaif will make it soon, but I saw Yuvraj in Yorkshire and when the ball moves around, he isn’t good enough. Sehwag will have flashes when he does well. But he can’t play like that and go on playing Tests.

There’s been talk of you joining the National Cricket Academy. If you had a choice, what sort of role would you want to improve Indian cricket?
A: I’d love to teach young openers. To be an opening batsman you need to have great technique, because you face the best bowlers at their freshest with a new ball. But you want to check with Jagmohan Dalmiya or Sunil Gavaskar on that. I’d always help the Indian players, but I need to be given a chance.