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The Rediff Interview /Roger Twose

'If you don't score runs you can't expect to get selected, and that's a pretty simple yardstick'

A fter playing lot of cricket for Warwickshire in the company of Allan Donald and others, Roger Twose realised that he would never represent England. So he migrated to New Zealand in 1994-95 and was selected to tour India in 1995 under the leadership of Lee Germon. Twose, however, hardly made a name as a Test match cricketer, but his contribution to the one-day game has been significant. Time and again, he has had played important knocks which helped New Zealand to build a good score or win matches.

Chosen only for the recent one-day series in India, Twose proved his credentials with a hard-hitting half century at Rajkot. After the match he spoke to Suresh Parikh about his career, his best moments and future plans.

Roger, after a very successful World Cup in the land of cricket, you failed to click in the highest form of the game against England?

Yes, it was very disappointing. I think I batted so well on English pitches in the World Cup, and following that run of success, I was expected to do the same in the Test series. But I failed to make big scores and that was pretty disappointing.

Was it because of that performance that your name wasn't in the original party list of this New Zealand team?

Yes, again I wasn't picked for the Test series and definitely it would be unfair if I say that I wasn't disappointed. Yes, I was disappointed because I missed the bus to a country where spinners dominate and I think I play spin bowling very well.

Doesn't this only goes to show that the New Zealand selectors consider Roger Twose as a one-day specialist only?

I may not be sure about that, but then Test cricket is entirely different from one-day cricket. This sort of things happens to many players. It is perhaps happening with Shahid Afridi and with the best one-day player, Michael Beven, too. Even Michael Beven, with such a dream average, is not in the Australian team. Of course, I don't mean to say that I'm as good as Beven, but I think I'm happy with the way I'm performing in the one-day game and so I'm focusing on that.

I know I had a poor series against England after the World Cup and besides, to be very honest, my Test match average is not that high that I should be an automatic selection for the Test match. But ups and downs are the part of life and one has to accept it. If you don't score runs you can't expect to get selected, and that's a pretty simple yardstick. I think I'm doing consistently well in one-day cricket where I'm scoring runs consistently and I'm still hopeful. I have a strong belief that if I keep scoring runs heavily in the one-day game I may get a call for the Test team.

But you are a good player of spin bowling, you might have come handy in the Test series too?

I'm a good player of spin bowling. I have seen and played a lot of Anil Kumble's bowling. I had played him earlier too. In fact, I remember I scored 140 for Warwickshire against Northamptonshire in a county game. And Kumble was in top form in that season. But I think there are quite a few good batsmen of spin bowling in this side. As far as Kumble is concerned, I think he is a more effective bowler to the right-hander than the left-handers. Stephen Fleming played him well. But I had a bad tour in England and I didn't deserve a place for the Test series.

You judge spinners very well. You played against the two leggies Shane Warne and Anil Kumble. Your comments.

Both are different in their art. Aren't they? Kumble is definitely more quicker through the air. And it is this quicker ball that has helped him to get so many wickets. He definitely seems a lot quicker than it appears. He bowls plenty of googlies too. Warne doesn't bowl too many googlies. He is famous for his big, beautiful, whipping deliveries. Both are in a class in their own. Otherwise, both of them couldn't have taken more than 250 wickets.

Your best performance thus far? Is it the last World Cup?

Yes, most definitely. That was the best time in my career. I think it was special because I scored runs against good attack. However, even prior to the World Cup I had a marvellous series against South Africa, where I had achieved the average of 50-odd. I hope to continue to perform with the same distinction in each and every one-day series.

Talking about the World Cup, you seemed to be very happy hitting a winning boundary against Australia?

That was the best innings I've played in a one-day game. It was very special because of the fact that eventually we defeated the World Cup-winning Australian team. Besides, it's the rivalry that the two teams enjoy. Yes, it was a very special moment. I was also pleased with my performance against India which helped us to reach to the semi-finals.

You shifted from England to New Zealand, but after sometime, suddenly, you almost call it a day?

Well, it was just for 12 months. I had the overdose of the cricket. I was away for a long time and I had a very bad series against the West Indies. In two Tests my scores were 2, 0, 2 and 2. So, I thought the much-needed rest was inevitable. I spent time with my family, and to me family is more important in my life; cricket is in the second place. I didn't want to compromise on that score by remaining away from home for so long.

The New Zealand team has now a coach, manager, player analyst, computer expert and what not. Do you welcome this move?

I think we are just trying to be better. It's a good thing, isn't it? The more you improve, the better the results.

Finally, how long would you like to continue playing. Would you taken up coaching after retirement?

I haven't decided about my career as yet. Coaching will certainly not be my priority. Maybe, I would go into the financial market. That's the other field of my likes.

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