India's bowling is ordinary: Michael Holding

Michael Holding lends the ‘men will be be men’ stereotype an altogether different connotation. Given that his contempt for ‘pyjama cricket’ (read T20) is “public knowledge”, it was astonishing to spot him at the Wankhede on Saturday.

So what was he doing at the venue he last visited as a player in 1983? And what prompted him to stand through the entire duration of the practice sessions of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings? Is he planning to don the hat of an advisor a la Viv Richards? Here’s the story: “My wife (Laurie-Ann) is working on the IPL production feed. I am here to spend a week with her because then I go to England for the entire summer and I won’t be able to see her until August,” he informs. “I intend to stay married.”

The chuckle is unmistakable, and the legendary pacer is kind enough to take questions on cricket. “The stadium is just so unrecognisable now. That Test match strip hardly had any grass.

This one has a good grass covering and it’s nice to see the carry the quicks get,” he says.

Holding isn’t exactly a fan of the IPL. In fact, he is a vociferous critic of such leagues. But he is happy the players are raking in the moolah. “It’s nice to see them (especially, the West Indians) do well and it’s nice to also see them make good money. If I was their age and somebody said to me, ‘here are 600,000 dollars and come and play for six weeks’, I’d be there before anybody else.”

Holding believes Dale Steyn is the best fast bowler around. “...But he’s playing so much cricket.

How much is he going to last? In the 1970s, 80s and even 90s, every team had one or two genuine fast bowlers. When I say fast bowler, I don’t mean someone who is running in from the fence. I mean someone really fast.”

Talk of the Champions Trophy and the 60-Test veteran maintains that ODI cricket is difficult to predict. “South Africa have the best team right now. But that doesn’t mean they are going to win.

India’s batting is strong,” he says.

What about the bowling? “It’s ordinary. That’s all I can say. Look at Ishant Sharma. When he came in, he was quick. Now he’s no longer quick.” How true!

Just then, a fan butts in. Don’t you think these T20 leagues are helping talented players, an enthusiastic middle-aged man asks. Holding’s response: “They still get hammered. But you don’t get talent because I don’t think too many people watch the Ranji Trophy very closely. The IPL gets highlighted because it’s televised. Sunil Narine gets wickets here, but can’t get a wicket in a Test match. What talent are you talking about?” Now that’s why they call him ‘Whispering Death’.