Roger Binny was in town to play cricket for India again. This time though, Binny was leading the Indian All Stars XI, a team made up former and current players, playing four matches against a similar Sri Lankan XI. In a freewheeling chat with The Indian Express, Binny talked about the current crop of cricketers, what plagues the Indian team, new prospects for the future etc. EXCERPTS:Q: What do you think is the basic problem with the erratic performance of the Indian team, which on paper, looks very good?A: We play just too much cricket. And we definitely play a lot more cricket than others. For instance, as compared to our 40 games a year (ODIs), Australia would be playing 20. It is just too taxing on the players. It is all very well to say that they have to play, but this one day Singapore, next Canada and then onto Kenya is too much. In addition, the players are not fit.Q: Could you elaborate on the lack of fitness?A: Well, they're not fit. Right now, there is nofitness trainer. There is not even any fitness programme. The people in charge for the last three years have not been qualified enough. Q: What are the other reasons?A: Sometimes, the entire demoralising process starts before a tournament finishes. The selectors for instance, have no business announcing a team for another tournament while one is in progress or just beginning. They did this with Kumble and Kambli announcing that they were being dropped for Toronto while the Singapore event was happening. That Kambli came back for Toronto was different, he was lucky. And then you have young cricketers, playing in just the last game of the tour, or not getting a look in at all, and then suddenly, they realise they have been axed for the next tour. They need opportunities and encouragement. Q: Talking of young cricketers, what of the current US Tour?A: What tour really. The present US tour is being played on a terrible track. In Toronto at least the bowlers had it okay, here it isterrible for both bowlers and batsmen. They are getting nothing out of this tour. Where is the opportunity and conditions to judge new talent?Q: If they do find new faces, where would they fit?A: This is a very important issue - the fact that the nucleus of the team has remained more or less unchanged in the last two seasons, probably because of the World Cup. Who came in? Only Ramesh. The selectors are not willing to try new faces.Q: And where would that be?A: Well, Azhar has had a good run. Younger players should be blooded.Q: But Azhar feels he is good for at least two years now.A: For some people, it is always difficult to give it up. You tend to think you can still play. But the people who make the decisions must look to the future. Otherwise, it may soon be too late to do anything for even the next World Cup.Q: What are the other changes required?A: Definitely, anyone who looks like a potentially good allrounder has to be encouraged. The tail is muchtoo long. If the top order clicks, then all is well. How long can you reasonably expect Robin to continue and shoulder the burden of attempting a rescue act. And, if you fit in an allrounder at 6,7,8 then get a specialist keeper and take the pressure off Dravid. I think Shukla (Laxmi Ratan) should be encouraged and if Chopra clicks, it's good. The long tail must be cut short.Q: Any other name come to mind?A: As I said, Shukla must be encouraged, he is young and does a good job. Vijay Bharadwaj from Karnataka (he has just been picked in the squad for Kenya) is a good bat who can bowl too. He needs more temprament to play at a higher level, but that will come with experience. I like (Amol) Muzumdar of Mumbai.Q: What about the bowlers?A: I think given the type of teams India will be playing in the near future, Kumble is still our best bet. Of course, if you make him play domestic cricket, he will walk back into the team like he did last time. But yes, a second string is necessary. Asfor fast bowlers, there is a major problem in two things. One is lack of pitches. Though more stadiums have come up since when I played, there has been absolutely no change in pitches, to help fast bowlers. The other is attitude. That is the fundamental difference between India and Pakistan and it shows inthe fast bowlers - aggression is the need of the hour. You have to want to go for the kill. And anyway, overall, the bottomline is that a second string is of prime importance. There has to be change.
