Mark Waugh
You don't have a great record against the Indians and Sri Lankans, Mark,
what causes that aberration in your record?
I don't think I have a bad record against the Indians. I've scored two tons
and a fifty against India in 11 matches. What about the 153 that I scored at
Bangalore? Sometimes, I have scored better in India than I have back home.
I have scored well in India than back home. Statistics can be misleading,
mate. I enjoy playing spin and am comfortable playing spinners here; it's a
real challenge. Against Sri Lanka, I was just running through a bad patch, I
was out of form, that is all I can say for myself.
A couple of months back, you seemed under pressure, there was a question
mark about your place in the side...?
I don't think I was under pressure, no, I am averaging 40 in the last ten
Tests I played, and that is not too bad is it? If that is not good enough,
then I got to think I am in a pretty tough school. In the past two years, I
have been averaging close to 50, actually.
How has the recent spate of controversies affected your game?
Much has been spoken about it and I think there is nothing more to say on
the subject. I want to make it clear that I will not talk about those things
on this tour.
What do you think is going to be the deciding factor on this tour?
Everyone is talking about spinners making a difference, but I think we must
spare a thought for the fast bowlers. Both the sides have some very good
fast bowling. Even with Kumble's loss, which is huge for the Indians, I
think Ajit Agarkar, Srinath and Zahir Khan will have an impact on the
series. And in the final analysis, the fast bowlers on either side will play
the deciding role.
What are the other factors at play, as you see them?
I think the home advantage will help the Indians. We aren't very comfortable
here. We are pushed out of our comfort zone a bit. The food and other stuff
also can get to us after a while. So, it is important to counter all these
things and then succeed. That's the real challenge of playing in India.
You have 145 catches against your name -- what is the key to being such a
consistently great slip fielder?
It is a combination of natural talent and practice. You have to be born with
the natural ability to do any of these things. Some guys are natural
catchers while some are great throwers. I think I owe this to my dad. He
used to take Steve and me to the backyard and hit tennis balls at us. And
trust me, he used to hit them very hard even when we were about three years
old.
If you had to pick one catch from your bag as your all time best, which
would it be?
The one I held of Alec Stewart at Headingley in 1993 was a personal
favourite of mine. The one I held in the World Cup finals against Pakistan
looked good too. I think it is tougher to take catches off spinners rather
than fast bowlers, with spinners, there is less time to react.