The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : I still feel young: Vaas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 30, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

I still feel young: Vaas

COLOMBO, JULY 29. Chaminda Vaas looked at peace with the world, skimming through a magazine at the Taj Samudra coffee shop. The six days of rest has obviously done him a world of good.

He didn't play in the second-phase day/night match against India two days ago; didn't need to. Sri Lanka had already assured itself a place in the August 1 Indian Oil-Asia Cup 2004 final and skipper Marvan Atapattu had decided to rest his senior paceman.

The left-armer is only 30 years of age, but a touch of grey is visible in his crew-cut, possibly caused by the pressures of being the strike force at the top of the island's attack for over a decade now.

Vaas made his One-Day International debut against India at Rajkot in 1993-94 and his Test debut against Pakistan at Kandy the following season. And, after 78 Tests (253 wickets) and 238 ODIs (306 wickets) is the Emerald Isle's second-highest wicket-taker after Muttiah Muralitharan in either form of the game.

Vaas says the enjoyment he derives from playing is what keeps him going.

"You have to love the game, enjoy every moment of it. I maintain a high level of fitness because I love to play. I'm doing well at the moment. I just want to continue my stuff, for at least another two or three years. I still feel young."

Good new crop

Bowling alongside younger pacemen like Nuwan Zoysa, the new sensation Lasith Malinga or the gangly Farveez Maharoof has relieved Vaas of some amount of pressure. "They are young, enthusiastic and very good. Nuwan is bowling brilliantly at the moment. They are all developing very quickly."

Though the arrival of these pacers has changed his profile to that of a senior pro, Vaas feels it hasn't altered his attitude towards bowling. "I'd say my role varies from game to game, from situation to situation. There are times when I take charge and there are times when I keep one end quiet."

Vaas, who has two hat-tricks to his credit in ODI cricket, has naturally matured over the years. "Considerably, I'd say. I've become a lot more patient. I've learnt the importance of perseverance. You see, you are up against the world's best batsmen and wickets obviously don't come easily. You then learn to be accurate, learn to be spot on. Only then come the variations."

Sri Lanka relied on pacers until Muralitharan changed all that. Why the swing back to seam? "We can't expect Muralitharan to deliver all the time. And, there is not going to be another Murali. I wonder if we can ever find a replacement for him. We realised that we should get young fast bowlers to continue making an impact. Thankfully, we have found a few."

No comparisons

Asked to compare the present team with the 1996 World Cup-winning side, Vaas, who plays for Colts CC in the domestic competition and had a stint with Hampshire in the English County circuit, said, "The World Cup-winning squad had a strong batting line-up. Sanath (Jayasuriya), Kalu (Kaluwitharana), Arjuna (Ranatunga), Aravinda (de Silva), Hashan (Tillekeratne) and Roshan (Mahanama). This side is not batting-heavy but is equally strong in all three departments of the game. I won't compare the two. The present side is improving by the day. It's a good combination."

Vaas was all praise for Atapattu's leadership qualities. "He is very aggressive. Reminds me a lot of Arjuna. The team is gelling well under him."

Vaas likes the conditions in New Zealand best. "It suits me. Swing and seam." It was at Napier in the 1994-95 series that Sri Lanka scored its first win in an overseas Test. A young Vaas played a huge part in it.

He mentioned Matt Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Inzamam-ul-Haq as the three contemporary batsmen he found most difficult bowling to.

His thoughts on the final: "I'll approach it as just another game. There is no use putting pressure on oneself."

Even as the chat came to an end, we asked him, what were the things he'd avoid doing if he were to start all over again. Vaas replied, a wry smile on his lips, "I won't bowl. I'd be a batsman instead. I was joking. Cricket is a batsman's game. But I love bowling. It's so challenging."

— Sanjay Rajan

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