Shane Warne
You were in the firing line right time, Shane. This time, you are part of a
strong bowling attack -- does that knowledge make a difference?
Yeah, sure, always does when you know the pressure is not entirely on you.
Last time, I was looking to do it all myself and that puts too much pressure
on you and pressure can affect the way you bowl. This time, there is Glen
and Jason and Colin and the other guys, I am not under so much pressure, I
can relax at the bowling crease and that should make a difference, yeah.
The whole 'playing in India' thing -- does it get to you as much as before?
I've never had a problem playing here, there are crowds sure, but they don't
bother me, it felt good actually to be applauded each time I came on to
bowl. So no, playing here wasn't hard last time, no reason why it should be
so this time round.
And then there is Tendulkar...?
Yeah, Sachin, he was a handful last time, and he will be a challenge this
time too, but like I said, this time I am not alone and besides, hopefully I
have become an even better bowler between then and now. And anyway, this is
about Australia versus India, it is not about me against Sachin. He is a
great batsman, I admire him, but there are other blokes in your side who can
bat a bit, we don't want to make the mistake of concentrating on Sachin
alone.
Was there some technical reason why the Indians were able to play you so
easily last time? We heard something said about an injury...?
I don't want to make excuses, I don't need to make excuses for what happened
last time. The Indian batsmen played me well, that is all there is to it.
Hopefully, this time round it will be different, I will be trying to do
things differently but for obvious reasons, I don't want to talk about it.
After that tour, the analysts said that the fact that you had to come in and
bowl against well set batsmen was one reason you couldn't do well. Did you
see that as a factor?
Yes, of course. It makes a difference, coming in to bowl with the board
reading 50 for two or three, than if you are coming in at say 100 for none.
I am an attacking bowler, and if I come on against well-set openers, I am
forced into a more defensive style of bowling, which is contrary to my game,
and that can make a difference. But that is not so much of a worry this
time, we have the bowling to put pressure right from the start.
Steve Waugh has laid it on the line this time, with his statement that the
15 straight wins won't matter unless the team does well here. Does that add
to the pressure on you?
Not really. Sure the team has goals and I am part of that effort, but
speaking personally, this tour is just as tough or as easy as any other
tour -- I don't have to prove anything to anyone any more, so there is no
pressure on me, no way.
Colin Miller was telling us that your emergence has inspired a whole lot of
young Aussies to take to spin bowling. How does it feel, being a role model?
As long as they pick up the right things to follow, mate, I can't complain
can I? Yeah, if we are developing a lot of spinners now, that has to be good
for us.
They say spinners like to hunt in pairs -- in that sense, how vital is it
having Miller bowling at the other end?
Yeah, helps always to have a good bowler keeping the pressure up at the
other end. But I don't know about spinners hunting in pairs, in the past, I
have had to bowl in tandem with pace bowlers and that was okay too -- it
ain't about what kind of bowler is at the other end, it is about keeping up
the pressure at both ends and any combination of bowlers who can do that is
good enough.
You were seen as the captain in waiting, but thanks to controversies, you
seem to be out of the reckoning...?
I don't want to talk about any of those controversies. I am content to be
part of the side.
The emergence of a rival in Stuart McGill -- how much does that affect you?
Not at all. McGill is a very good bowler, he does his thing and I do mine. I
am not concerned with who else is bowling -- if I am picked to play, I do my
best, and that is all there is to it, I am past having to prove anything to
anyone.