John proposed multiple captains to me too: Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh appears candid, honest and to-the-point as he takes a range of questions from DNA.

How do you think IPL has affected world cricket?
A lot of good has come out of it. It has given so many players a chance to make a living. Earlier, there were only, on an average, 20 players who were playing international cricket. It’s really good for the younger players. It’s such an exciting format, with so much money involved, everyone is bound to be interested. Organisers and administrators have to be careful that it shouldn’t affect Test and one-day cricket. It has to be scheduled in the time frame free of international cricket.

Could the huge amounts of money in IPL be a disrupting factor? For instance, Ricky Ponting earns less that Andrew Symonds but for Australia, Symonds plays under him. Does this question Ricky’s authority?
Look, that’s how businesses are run the world over. You get paid for what you are required to do. Maybe in T20 someone’s abilities are more valued than the other. But that’s just where it ends. Once Ricky goes back to the Australian squad, he is the leader.

Why have you kept yourself away from the IPL?
Nobody has approached me yet! Being involved with the IPL means that I have to be away from my home and family for 50-60 days at a stretch. For somebody who has been away from home for almost 20 years and only now gotten a chance to be with the family, it is quite a lot of time.

What about John Buchanan, is he a revolutionary or just plain crazy? His ‘four-captain’ theory created quite a stir...
John can polarise people and opinions. But he puts a lot of thought behind what he suggests and does. Because of what he is, he becomes an easy target. He challenges people and pushes them out of their comfort zone. Some think it’s crazy, but his efforts are honest. Besides, he isn’t the one playing on the field. It’s the players who perform. I saw Kolkata drop many catches and they aren’t playing brilliant cricket either.

Four captains, well, T20 isn’t the platform where you need to theorise or think and rethink tactics like the way you can in Tests. It’s such a short period. You just have to go and play. The multiple captain issue isn’t a new thought of John’s. He had suggested it to me when I was the captain of Australia. I was totally against it and said a straight ‘no’. We just had a brief chat about it and that’s it.

The important thing is to just sit and talk things out before letting it out in the press. That makes it more complicated. Also, John and his ideas have been around for a while. So Kolkata knew what they were getting into. Anyway, they didn’t implement the ‘four captains’ idea. So that’s fine.

The other talked-about Aussie in the IPL is Shane Warne. Can the man do any wrong on the cricket field?
Shane’s a genius, we all know that. But you know he isn’t running a one-man show. There is a very dedicated support staff team that they have. Darren Berry, Jeremy Snape, and a whole lot of others helping. They should be given credit too. Shane, I am sure, plays a big role in all the decisions and giving ideas. But there are a lot of others also responsible for the way the team is performing.

Away from the IPL, what ails Andrew Symonds?
Ah! I don’t know... Alcohol can affect people. International cricket has tremendous pressure. You have to find a balance. I know that Andrew loves playing cricket. It’s more a question of discipline than anything else.
Michael Clarke, the future Australia captain, doesn’t seem to be very popular within the team. Your comments.

Michael has shown that he is a very good captain. The win in the Middle East will only help him gain in confidence. Things happen in the dressing room. Been happening for ages. You don’t have to always agree with each other. The media always makes it a bigger deal. I am sure Michael will do well as captain of Australia.

On a personal level, is mentoring something you are looking to do long term? You travelled with the Australian squad to Beijing and were associated with the Socceroos before Asia Cup.
Oh yes. I am really enjoying that role. I have been associated with cricket for so long.
It’s nice to do something in other sports as well. Importantly, whatever the sport, the
basic fundamentals remain the same. The Beijing Olympics were such a good experience. My role essentially was to help athletes in lower profile sports. Help them cope with disappointments. Not all of them won medals or became stars. So, helping them was a really good experience.

What was your favourite memory from the Games?
Oh just too many... Watching Usain Bolt run, all of Michael Phelps’ medal-winning performances, then watching Lionel Messi play, from Australia there was Steve Hooker’s pole vault gold medal, Stephanie Rice’s excellent performances. The whole experience was just fantastic.

Have you ever thought about coaching the Indian cricket team?
I think Gary Kirsten is doing a great job... Here in India you need a low profile coach. There was a problem when Greg (Chappell) was here. But yes I have thought about it.