90% players want to play Test cricket, the real cricket: Coach Pravin Amre

Excerpts from an interview:

CricLife (CL): You have been coaching the Delhi Daredevils (DD). In T20 cricket today, we see batsmen playing all those inventive shots. It is not conventional. How difficult is it to coach in the format?

Pravin Amre (PA): I think that is the challenging thing because, as a coach, we have to be practical nowadays. Fundamentally, the basics have to be strong. But we also have to be realistic and practical. You have to judge the player’s ability as to whether he is able to play the shots for the requirements for T20 format. Ultimately, irrespective of the format, you have to perform. In T20 cricket, you have innovative shots which have to be developed and practiced. So, as a coach, it is your job to work on the finer points of the shots.

CL: In the nets, you have throwdowns among other drills. If there is a player with a weakness outside the off-stump, you have a set way to iron it out. But, can those innovative shots be taught or it is based on his instinct?

PA: The way AB de Villiers plays is tremendous. Why he is doing it? How is he doing it? Those finer points are important. If that player can practice that, it is achievable. It is all about how one performs under pressure.

CL: Speaking of AB de Villiers, his head is very still when he plays those shots. Some of the youngsters, looking at him batting in T20 cricket, may attempt those shots and lose balance. How do you correct that?

PA: As you said, head position is important for any shot. When you go for the traditional shots, you go step-by-step and understand yourself the importance of the shape and head position. That is the reason, players believe in their shot playing ability.

CL: You have worked with Robin Uthappa, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina. With Uthappa, you reconstructed his technique from scratch. In such a situation, how much time and patience do you have and what is the work ethic you develop?

PA: Yes, it was done from the scratch. He is someone who has played over 100 First-Class games and represented India. It takes time because they have got their habits and muscle memories for 15-odd years. So, undoing that takes time. That varies from person to person. Also, strength and hard work is required which they may not have done before. They have to be that passionate that they want to go to the next level. Those are the necessities; else one cannot perform at the highest level.

CL: With Uthappa, the results are good. What do you have to say about his recent run, especially in the Ranji Trophy?

PA: That was the goal. He was a successful player in the shorter versions. There are players who come to me and say they want to do well in the shorter versions. There are players who want to do well in the longer format. Robin’s case was that he wanted to do well in four-day cricket. That brought a lot of pleasure on him and me as well — doing well in the Ranji Trophy. It is not only about technique but also hard work and mindset.

CL: Do you think youngsters these days aren’t absorbing the basics as well as they should, especially as they watch T20 cricket?

PA: Today, cricket has become that way. Let us face it; that is the reality now. But there are players like Ravindra Jadeja, who came in as a T20 player then played one-day and Tests as well. It is up to the player then. It is a platform for them. Even Ajinkya Rahane first came in the T20 team. It is an opportunity to perform.

CL: David Warner is another who has made the transition from T20 cricket to Tests.

PA: In modern cricket, whenever you get an opportunity, in whichever format, it is important to come into recognition. Through the Indian Premier League (IPL), everybody knows you. I ask 90 percent players, and they want to play Test cricket; that is the real cricket. You spoke about David Warner, who started off as an explosive player and is now a part of the Test side and is consistently doing well. People feel T20 hampers, but it is up to the player. If they want to do it, they can do it.