Nari Contractor: Shades of grey

Ironically Contractor will always be remembered for the injury he picked up after being hit by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith, who was then the fastest bowler in the world. Nevertheless those who saw him play will also remember his elegance at the crease and ability to play spin and pace with equal ease.

Nari Contractor now looks after the BCCI portfolio of the Talent and Research Development along  with another former great, Dilip Vengsarkar. He spoke to Cricket365’s Suresh Parekh recently.

1. Nari,You were very disappointed with the recent dismal performances by the Indians - particularly the tour to New Zealand?
I was disappointed by the consistent mistakes they were making. I think most of the top order batsmen have played matches yet they didn’t have the sense of it. May be the wickets were not the best but the way the Indian batsmen played shameful.

2. So do you think that the poor showing showing in New Zealand is having an effect on the side's  chances in the World Cup?
No.If we play to our potential then India has a good chance, but the problem is that India is not playing to their potential. In fact they are playing very far below their potential and it is here the chances are still hanging. But lets hope that with a little break the Indian players will come out with flying colours and forget the battles of the recent past.

3. Are you expecting India to reach to the last four?
I think India have the ability to get there but we must not forget that India is in the toughest group - it will be a real fight just to make it into the Super-Six first.

4. Are you happy with the batting line up and batting order?
I don't really think that the Sachin controversy is a genuine controversy. I say this because it seems to be that the debate is more important to the public than to the team or the management. In fact we decided to drop Sachin at No.4 couple of years ago with the view to preparing the side better for the World Cup and now the World Cup has come and we would like to return the same position. Let Sachin bat at No.3 or 4.

5. But what about the bowling. Do you believe that the Indian team is missing an all-rounder?
I think Sehwag can bowl few overs. Sachin, Yuvraj, Ganguly can also bowl a few overs and these are the cricketers who are selected primarily as batsmen. I think at least one of them has to play the role of a genuine allrounder.

6. But recently India's opponents have managed to score 300 plus runs almost at will?
That is a problem. We have successfully chased the targets of 300 plus runs on certain occasion but we forget that it is our bowlers who have conceded so many runs and our bowlers will have realize that and tighten up.

7. Nari, we were talking about the failure of the Indian batsmen to play on the hard, fast and bouncy wickets on the NZ tour. But last year India prepared 10 fast wickets as well?
A:I think that the Indian batsmen and particularly the India captain should to be blamed for that. On the one hand we spend lot of money to prepare the fast wickets, call expert from the NZ  and on the morning of the match captain comes and instruct the groundman to remove the grass. So what is the point in preparing a green top?

8. So you want to say grounds man should have the power to give the wicket of his choice?
Yes I do believe that the groundsman knows his wicket better than anybody else and that he should be allowed to prepare what he feels is the best track. If the centre is famous for fast wickets then he should be entitled to ensure that they remain fast and maintain their reputation.