Thursday, Nov 07, 2013
Kolkata: Shane Shillingford says he owes his success to Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. After attending a spin clinic conducted by Mushtaq in Barbados recently, he feels he has emerged a better bowler and at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, he destroyed India’s top order with a spell of four for 130, which included the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar.
“Working with Saqi [Saqlain Mushtaq] made me mentally tougher in terms of self-belief and stuff like that that he really stressed. Bowling out there, I really enjoyed every moment of it. Saqi, he thought pretty much about preparation before a Test match and that’s what I took from him when he was at the spinning camp,” said Shillingford, who reduced India to 83 for 5 at one stage.
Shillingford then went on to reveal that he learned many variations from Mushtaq. “When we got to the spinning camp on the first day, he was telling me about my doosra and stuff like that and how I bowled it. So we went to the nets and tried out a few things. And he himself went out and bowled and the way he gripped the ball is very difficult because his joints and everything is different. But he definitely taught me a lot in terms of controlling it.”
One important tip Mushtaq gave, according to Shillingford, was to ask yourself where you want the batsman to play a particular ball. Shillingford was also delighted to get Tendulkar’s wicket, but refused to discuss the wrongs or rights of the umpiring decision. “In the spur of the moment, it’s every bowler’s reaction to appeal one time. I got in and I had seen it and stuff [on television]. At the end of the day, the umpire made his decision. It’s my job to appeal, so these things happen in the game.”
Shillingford is thrilled that his fine performance came against India, who are excellent players of spin. “It feels absolutely wonderful. It’s going to be a challenge, you know. I know the Indians, they are very good players of spin. It is a wonderful achievement for me in terms of the wickets I got early on. Also, the wicket is not an easy wicket to bowl on. It’s a wicket where you have to put the ball in the right areas and be patient.”
Shillingford believes that the match is wide open despite India having bounced back strongly. “The match is still wide open. It’s only the second day, so tomorrow [Friday] is a very important day for us. We have to come out and stick to our plans and be patient. When we get them out, it will depend on how we will bat.”
By K.R. Nayar Chief Cricket Writer
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