Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, one of the all-time fast bowlers, told The Telegraph on Saturday morning. Following are excerpts.
Coming from the subcontinent, what is your reaction to India to be eliminated?
I was sad ... Dukh hua hai ... The players are my friends and I have ties with cricket in India ... It hurts ... There is no shame in losing after struggling with it, but only for the final test was the fifth day, while the third ended in two years and a half days ... Perth was shocking.
What are the reasons for India to do so badly?
On the one hand, older people are not led from the front with the bat or the ball or to project a good body language. When the team is not doing well, so young or less experienced players looking to the elderly ... They take a cue from them ... I have not found the elderly trying to help young people, as Umesh Yadav ... My impression is that older people played for themselves, not the team.
You will not blame Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led the first three tests, and Virender Sehwag, who took the final test?
Everyone says that Dhoni's cool ... But you are legal only if you are winning ... When things are not going your way, you need to be proactive, needs to show emotion ... Fresh captain Sehwag bhi ban gaya ... It's not how it works.
The other reasons ...
There was no opening to talk about partnership (best of 26!) And with the wickets Tues grass, which was a very tall order for the middle-end ... Seeing the wickets, I knew that the scouts would be challenged. But why not the Indian Quicks and medium pacers to take wickets? After all, they rolled on the same surface as Australia. The Indians did not bowl the right length, do not pitch it up ... Look at Ishant Sharma, he took only five wickets at an average of 90.20! If he could not get wickets in Australia, where he will get them?
Anything else?
The fielding was poor ... When Suresh Raina and Manoj Tiwarys play, so the fielding will improve. Once the fielding is better then the game in general will also improve.
In the past, Zaheer Khan have sought his guidance. Someone comes to you this time?
No. .. Aayaa Koi Nahin.
But you spent some time with the promising Mitch Starc in SCG?
(Smiles) That's because he came to me ... I'll definitely make time for those who want to enjoy my experience ... Nationality is not important ... Any young person can come to me.
Should Rahul Dravid (194 runs at an average of 24.25) and VVS Laxman (155 runs at an average of 19.37) call it a day?
I do not want to be advising them, but there is a time for everything ... To play and not play ... When you watch highlights of the day, or watch your performance during the day, then you get to know exactly where you are ... There is little need I say more ... I stopped when I was about 37 years.
What Australia has done, click the way they did?
The way that happened ... Bowling coach Craig McDermott asked his pitchers to pitch it up and they did it ... So the batting of Ricky Ponting at No. 4 and (captain) Michael Clarke in paragraph 5. Indian bowlers could spend the first three batters quickly, but Ponting and Clarke. What made the difference, with Ponting receiving more than 500 races and more than 600 Clarke. This is huge for a four-Test series.
How did you find the captaincy of Clarke?
He looked good, but its test will be abroad when he is away from housing conditions.
Finally, what is the way forward for India?
There must be a vision, a goal should be ... If you want to go back to the No.1 position in Test cricket, then you need to invest in young people with a high degree of potential.
Coming from the subcontinent, what is your reaction to India to be eliminated?
I was sad ... Dukh hua hai ... The players are my friends and I have ties with cricket in India ... It hurts ... There is no shame in losing after struggling with it, but only for the final test was the fifth day, while the third ended in two years and a half days ... Perth was shocking.
What are the reasons for India to do so badly?
On the one hand, older people are not led from the front with the bat or the ball or to project a good body language. When the team is not doing well, so young or less experienced players looking to the elderly ... They take a cue from them ... I have not found the elderly trying to help young people, as Umesh Yadav ... My impression is that older people played for themselves, not the team.
You will not blame Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led the first three tests, and Virender Sehwag, who took the final test?
Everyone says that Dhoni's cool ... But you are legal only if you are winning ... When things are not going your way, you need to be proactive, needs to show emotion ... Fresh captain Sehwag bhi ban gaya ... It's not how it works.
The other reasons ...
There was no opening to talk about partnership (best of 26!) And with the wickets Tues grass, which was a very tall order for the middle-end ... Seeing the wickets, I knew that the scouts would be challenged. But why not the Indian Quicks and medium pacers to take wickets? After all, they rolled on the same surface as Australia. The Indians did not bowl the right length, do not pitch it up ... Look at Ishant Sharma, he took only five wickets at an average of 90.20! If he could not get wickets in Australia, where he will get them?
Anything else?
The fielding was poor ... When Suresh Raina and Manoj Tiwarys play, so the fielding will improve. Once the fielding is better then the game in general will also improve.
In the past, Zaheer Khan have sought his guidance. Someone comes to you this time?
No. .. Aayaa Koi Nahin.
But you spent some time with the promising Mitch Starc in SCG?
(Smiles) That's because he came to me ... I'll definitely make time for those who want to enjoy my experience ... Nationality is not important ... Any young person can come to me.
Should Rahul Dravid (194 runs at an average of 24.25) and VVS Laxman (155 runs at an average of 19.37) call it a day?
I do not want to be advising them, but there is a time for everything ... To play and not play ... When you watch highlights of the day, or watch your performance during the day, then you get to know exactly where you are ... There is little need I say more ... I stopped when I was about 37 years.
What Australia has done, click the way they did?
The way that happened ... Bowling coach Craig McDermott asked his pitchers to pitch it up and they did it ... So the batting of Ricky Ponting at No. 4 and (captain) Michael Clarke in paragraph 5. Indian bowlers could spend the first three batters quickly, but Ponting and Clarke. What made the difference, with Ponting receiving more than 500 races and more than 600 Clarke. This is huge for a four-Test series.
How did you find the captaincy of Clarke?
He looked good, but its test will be abroad when he is away from housing conditions.
Finally, what is the way forward for India?
There must be a vision, a goal should be ... If you want to go back to the No.1 position in Test cricket, then you need to invest in young people with a high degree of potential.
I have my best buddy here and he told me that Wasim Akram is perfect for Indian cricket, and he must know about this since he is a pay per head bookie, don't you think?
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