Kaneria eagerly waits for battle against Lara

[Amjid Javed]

KARACHI, May 7: Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan leg-spinner, said on Saturday that he was keenly waiting to confront the veteran batting genius Brian Lara on the forthcoming tour of the West Indies. Kaneria, the only bowler in the current squad with more than 100 Test wickets, expressed his desire to get the 36-year-old Lara’s prized scalp in the two-match Test series that gets under way at Bridgetown from May 26.

“I have never bowled to Lara in a Test match. Although now in the twilight of his career, he is still a magnificent player even at this stage,” Kaneria told Dawn.

Kaneria pointed out that the task for Pakistan was not going to be as easy as many people expect despite the up-and-down performance of West Indies in Test cricket recently.

“We can’t afford to take West Indies lightly with Lara in their line-up. Even though they lost to South Africa but with someone like Lara around, we have to be on guard since he has got that uncanny ability to change the complexion of the match.

“But at the same time, we must remain focussed in our endeavour as we showed during the series in India despite being the underdogs.”

Kaneria, who has 121 wickets to his credit in 26 Tests since his debut against England at Faisalabad in 2000-01, attributed his current spree of success to determination and sheer willpower to perform at the highest level.

“I love challenges and there is nothing in the world that gives more satisfaction than giving my very best for Pakistan. I never get tired of performing for the country. For me Pakistan always comes first and nothing pleases me more than a win for my country.”

“The experience of playing in India was electrifying and to do well against the Indians in their own conditions was very satisfying.”

Kaneria, a cousin of former Test wicket-keeper Anil Dalpat, disagreed that he conceded far too many runs in recent Tests against Australia and India.

“In those matches I had to bowl a lot of overs, and since I had been mainly used as a strike bowler, the number of runs given away per over was still respectable. Moreover, a leg-spinner generally goes for more runs because of the attacking nature of this kind of bowling.”

Kaneria, currently 11th in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings, was modest when told that he upstaged Shane Warne and Anil Kumble in Pakistan’s last two series in Australia and India, respectively.

The Pakistani took 15 wickets to Warne’s 14 and 19 to Kumble’s 17.

“I rate both Warne and Kumble very high in the list of leg-spinners. Compared to me they are true legends. But I was naturally happy of the fact that I took more wickets than them,” he said.

“But what pleased me most was when Richie Benaud (who himself was a great leg-spinner in the 1950s and 60s) acknowledged my performance in Australia with some kind words.”

Kaneria revealed that playing in the county championship in England last year has made him a better bowler. “My first season with Essex (he picked 63 wickets in 11 first-class fixtures) was a great learning experience because of varied playing conditions. I learnt a lot in those few weeks.”

When asked to nominate the batsmen he found difficult to bowl at, Kaneria picked Rahul Dravid (the top Indian batting star), Australian captain Ricky Ponting and his compatriot Damien Martyn. “Without any doubt they are the best batsmen I ever bowled to. All of them are master players of leg-spin.”

Getting Saurav Ganguly (the Indian captain) stumped in the Bangalore Test victory was another highlight of Kaneria’s career. “Ganguly was dropped by Younis Khan off my bowling shortly before I managed to deceive him with a leg-break (off-break to the left-handed Ganguly) that left him stranded down the pitch.

“Taking the final wicket of the match (Lakshmipathy Balaji) was another highlight simply because we squared the series.”

Among his most memorable matches, Kaneria rated his match-winning effort against Sri Lanka at Karachi (10 wickets) last year in the same bracket as the series-levelling win in Bangalore.

“Pakistan trailed in both series which why I rate these Tests among my favourites because we won them.”

[tahaqureshi]

This is not something new, Danish is always saying these things. He is always up for the challenge, never losing his stamina. Gr8 guy, hope he gets the man of the series award this time around.

[Naz]

Yes, he has had really tough challenges in australia and hindustan and come out with flying colours. Hopefully he will really get his reward in west indies and bring returns of 6-70 instead of 6-150.

[Rob H]

We hopefully Danish will work out a plan on how to get Lara out. He needs to keep nagging away at where Lara doesn't like it and hope he makes a mistake.

[sy]

"Kaneria, currently 11th in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings, was modest when told that he upstaged Shane Warne and Anil Kumble in Pakistan’s last two series in Australia and India, respectively.

The Pakistani took 15 wickets to Warne’s 14 and 19 to Kumble’s 17. "

-Thats quite interesting.

[Amjid Javed]

Originally Posted by Naz Yes, he has had really tough challenges in australia and hindustan and come out with flying colours. Hopefully he will really get his reward in west indies and bring returns of 6-70 instead of 6-150.

it would help if are seamers like sami didnt bowl 20 overs 1 wkt 100 runs etc every match...

kaneria has had 2 bowl to many overs lately and its time for are seamers to stand up!

[karachiite]

or lie down(on the massage table)

[fair_play]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed Originally Posted by Naz Yes, he has had really tough challenges in australia and hindustan and come out with flying colours. Hopefully he will really get his reward in west indies and bring returns of 6-70 instead of 6-150. it would help if are seamers like sami didnt bowl 20 overs 1 wkt 100 runs etc every match... kaneria has had 2 bowl to many overs lately and its time for are seamers to stand up!

Agreed.

He is still young so I patiently await the day he will take 5-100 with important early wickets rather than 4 - 30 during the slog overs to follow up on earlier figures of 1-120.

To my mind there is still a crucial bit of ingredient still missing. A bit like Sami he is running in to bowl all his variety without thinking too much about what needs to be bowled to the particualr batsman. He is a very keen talented bowler, but I dont think he is keen thinker.

At least not just yet. With experience it will probably come at some point - let's hope so. It's the sort of transition all talented bowlers goes through at some point in their career - and need to. In fast bowling, the obvious examples are Hadlee and Imran. Both were focused and keen but not the greatest thinkers initially - more keen to strut their stuff than figure batsmen out. Once they learned that bit, they became world class. The day Kaneria starts thinking about batsmen, and less about his own bowling, is the day he will become a great bowler.

Some bowlers are born like this - Warne is of course a prime example. Others learn with time - though I reckon it smore of an epiphany. This hasnt happened to Kaneria yet - despite all the trash talk. He is still an enthusiastic kid whirling away and happy to showcase his talent. The real returns will come when he realises his talent must pay in terms of match altering spells.

Let's wait and see. There is some devlopment to go still. At the moment, intelligent batsmen have the upper hand over him. Even if he succeeds in the West Indies we will have to wait for effective spells against the likes of Australia, Engalnd and India before we can classify him as a mature bowler.

He has the ingredients, and its all down to him to make them matter. Its the PCB's responsibility as well to sit him down and re-train him somewhat. We dont want a re-run of the Sami situation. Kaneria should be a greater threat than he is currently.

[Officer Barbrady]

Warne says he never really 'thought' out batsmen in his first couple of years and basically threw in one after the other. Perhaps it was just his immense ability and variety? He says he does so now and it is key in his success (even though he doesn't have that repertoire now).

[AT1]

i hope kaneria plays well in the tests and also plays in the ODI's

[Master-P]

Even if he succeeds in the West Indies we will have to wait for effective spells against the likes of Australia, Engalnd and India before we can classify him as a mature bowler.

I dont know about you but i think he has already proved him self against india.

[adi 101]

hopefully he will perform in the upcoming series

[Farhad]

As much as I hope Kaneria will succeed against Lara, I have my doubts. Lara is simply the best batsman of spinners there has been in this era. He tore apart Murali's square turners in SL at the height of Lankan's powers. If he plays with the right attitude, I'm afraid Lara can do a lot of damage to Kaneria. On the other hand, THIS would indeed be the defining encounter for Danish is he can upstage the WI master-class.

[Farhad]

As much as I hope Kaneria will succeed against Lara, I have my doubts. Lara is simply the best batsman of spinners there has been in this era. He tore apart Murali's square turners in SL at the height of Lankan's powers. If he plays with the right attitude, I'm afraid Lara can do a lot of damage to Kaneria. On the other hand, THIS would indeed be the defining encounter for Danish is he can upstage the WI master-class.

[Officer Barbrady]

The thing about Lara is that you just don't deceive him with wrong uns or variety. He also plays the regular shots against spin as well as anyone (watch for drives, pulls and cuts) alongwith the unorthodox glides, late cuts and flicks. Very frustrating for any spinner.

He can shoe-beat Kaneria like no other. At this stage of his career the ones who can trouble him are bowlers with extra pace or bounce where his footwork isn't always assured. Once spinners come on he has no issues it has never troubled him and and never really will.

[fair_play]

Top batsmen try to make you bowl what they want you to bowl.

It really is that simple. To counter that you need either outstanding talent, or an outstanding cricketing brain. Kaneria is the most capable young spinner in world cricket today. If he adds brains to his ability he could be far more effective.

He is young and has time on his side. But it would be great, from Pakistan's perspective, that he can start repaying the great faith in him with some match winning spells now and then.

That would be the making of him.

[OTW]

Best way for Kaneria to succeed against Lara would be to keep BCL at the non-striker's end as long as possible.

I won't be surprised to see more of the same from WI with Lara churning out big knock after big knock, and the rest of the batting falling apart the rest of the time. Hope I'm wrong though.

[Big Daddy]

i think murli is a better spinner then kaneria, infact murli is the best spinner in the world , lara cleaned him up big time , so what chance does kaneria have , then again , every day is a new day

[Waqar's inswinging yorker]

when lara is in the mood - no bowler stands a chance - he has taken many an attack to the sword

[DesiMD]

he is a great bowler.....and i hope he will do good in westindies too...InshAllah..he is a great bowler...and if Pakistan uses him well, carefully, and with a good plan....he can get records too..like getting the msot wickets or something..because he is moving fast.....sqlain was also a good bowler...but pakistani team rejected him..in and outs...cuz of that he went to counties.....this reason and a few other reasons...completely finished the best bowler of the time...

[DesiMD]

Originally Posted by Naz Yes, he has had really tough challenges in australia and hindustan and come out with flying colours. Hopefully he will really get his reward in west indies and bring returns of 6-70 instead of 6-150.

yes thats what we hope for....inshAllah..he will give much better results