The Hindu : Sport : Australia series will decide where the seniors stand, says Viswanath

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Australia series will decide where the seniors stand, says Viswanath

S. Dinakar

Chennai: They remember his magic at Chepauk; the dextrous wrists, the rapier-like strokes, the eye, the reflexes, the timing. Andy Roberts, fit, fast and crafty. India was on the mat on a lively wicket. Gundappa Viswanath counter-attacked. His unbeaten 97 in the Madras Test of 1975 stays in the Indian cricketing consciousness.

Viswanath says he can still hear the roar at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

“My finest Test innings came here. The crowd loved me here” he told The Hindu.

Vishy relished a duel. He looked forward to the challenge of facing the top bowlers. This is precisely why he awaits the India – Australia series. “We should witness some great cricket,” he says.

Presently, batting consultant at the NCA, Viswanth is in demand. Sachin Tendulkar spent time with him in Bangalore recently.

Viswanath is realistic about form slumps in a long career. “When you play for so many years, there are bound to be some failures as well,” he says.

He quickly adds the series against Australia will be very important for some of India’s senior batsmen. “We will have a clearer idea about where they stand at the end of the series,” he says.

The maestro comprehends the thankless job of being a selector. He is, however, delighted that the selectors will soon be handsomely paid. “When you spend so much of your time watching matches and monitoring the progress of the cricketers, it is only fair that you should be compensated,” he says. Would he take up the job of a National selector if it were to be offered to him again? “Why not? It will be a great challenge,” replies Viswanath.

He once again shifts his attention to the series against Australia.

“They do not have Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. But they still have a useful pace attack. Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson can test our batsmen.”

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, he believes, will once again be a major factor. Viswanath says Anil Kumble has some more cricket left in him.

He calls M.S. Dhoni a strong and a responsible captain who reads the situation well and can change his game and plans accordingly.

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