Friday, Oct 24, 2008
Gulf News
Dubai: Roger Binny, highest wicket taker in the 1983 World Cup with 18 wickets, said he considered his performance against Australia in a crucial group league match as the best one in the tournament.
"We had to win the match to be able to progress to the super league, and I was quite happy to pick up three wickets as well as contribute with the bat," said the soft-spoken allrounder.
Speaking to the Gulf News on the sidelines of the 'Legends of Lords' function, Binny said it seemed just like the other day when it all happened at the Lord's. Now one of the Cricket Development Officers of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the Bangalorean had played a key role in both of India's most significant one-day triumphs so far. Binny was again the highest wicket taker with a tally of 17 during their Benson & Hedges Cup triumph under Sunil Gavaskar's captaincy Down Under in 1985.
Golden arm
Called the man with the golden arm, Binny's seam bowling also found success on the sub-continental wickets, his best Test effort being six wickets for 56 against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens in '87. Was it reverse swing, then? "Yes, I got the ball to reverse swing, often without knowing it. There would be times when Kirmani would expect an outswinger but the ball would swing back," he admitted candidly.
Any reference to Kapil's Devils is not complete without a mention of that team's allrounders - who played a huge role behind India's success. "It's from us that other teams took the cue for the need of allrounders in one-day cricket," pointed out Binny.
Asked why is it that India are now struggling to find quality allrounders, Binny said: "Being an allrounder is not an easy job, for the workload is more. They are born, not made. They are trying to project Irfan Pathan as an allrounder, but he is not, he is a bowler who can bat.
"Ishant Sharma, on the other hand, seems to have a good technique. One can also look at Praveen Kumar, may be he can develop as one," he added.
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
