The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Learnt a lot playing domestic cricket: Jaffer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 07, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

Learnt a lot playing domestic cricket: Jaffer

St. John's: For a cricketer to make it two evenings in a row to the press conference, he must do something special. On Monday, Wasim Jaffer became only the fourth Indian — after Dilip Sardesai (212, 1970-71), Sunil Gavaskar (220, 1970-71) and Navjot Sidhu (201, 1996-97) — to make a double hundred in the West Indies.

The opener's 212 put India in a position to chase victory after being on the mat for the first two days. Jaffer spoke to newsmen after the fourth day.

Excerpts:

On the double: It's nice to get a double hundred in the West Indies, not many have got it. It is a pleasure batting here.

On Rahul Dravid: Watching him bat at the other end is a great pleasure. You can learn a lot. He is probably the best batsman in our team. Whenever I play and miss or play a bad shot, he comes and tells me where I was going wrong. When I was batting 120-130, he came and said if I got a double hundred and the team won, it will be great. `There are not many chances people get to win a Test match for the country and in your short career you have got an opportunity, so don't throw it away.'

On his evolution as a batsman: Last time around, probably I wasn't that mature. After I was dropped, I learnt a lot playing domestic cricket and I scored heavy runs there. I just got used to it. This time around, I am more mature and have learnt to bat long hours.

On what went through his mind on 199: I was looking for an opportunity to get a single. Not too bothered. Rahul got out, that was a bit disappointing. I was just looking to pinch a single.

On his gameplan: Cutting out the strokes in the early part of my innings, and later on going for all my shots. — Special Correspondent

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