Hall: 'It makes up for being stranded on 99 not out'
Quotes
Nagraj Gollapudi
21-Nov-2004
Opening the innings for the first time, Andrew Hall made 163, his maiden Test century. And after a hard day in the field for India at Green Park, he and Murali Kartik spoke to the press:
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Andrew Hall
On when he was told he would open
I was told on Thursday, so I had visualised myself as an opener and was determined to do well. Hopefully, I can get some more big knocks in the series. I had played my last Test in January, so I wanted to make it count here. I didn't want to put myself under pressure by negative thoughts.
I was told on Thursday, so I had visualised myself as an opener and was determined to do well. Hopefully, I can get some more big knocks in the series. I had played my last Test in January, so I wanted to make it count here. I didn't want to put myself under pressure by negative thoughts.
Whether this innings made up for Leeds, 2003
Yeah, at Leeds I was left on 99 not out. I was very happy the way I batted in the end - and more than being relieved it was an achievement and I was excited. But my job is half done, as I want to make a contribution with the ball as well.
Yeah, at Leeds I was left on 99 not out. I was very happy the way I batted in the end - and more than being relieved it was an achievement and I was excited. But my job is half done, as I want to make a contribution with the ball as well.
Whether he was surprised by his form
You're always going to believe in your own batting and get runs, and the last two days I stuck down and just really worked on a lot of the things we had spoken about in the past. In the past I might have been guilty of wasting [a start] after getting into similar positions. Obviously today there was a lot of help from the guys. And credit should also go to previous guys who had been here, and spoke to us about various things which helped us work through the tough periods.
You're always going to believe in your own batting and get runs, and the last two days I stuck down and just really worked on a lot of the things we had spoken about in the past. In the past I might have been guilty of wasting [a start] after getting into similar positions. Obviously today there was a lot of help from the guys. And credit should also go to previous guys who had been here, and spoke to us about various things which helped us work through the tough periods.
On disciplining himself
It's a mindset. It's something you actually tell yourself - it's self-motivation. It's the look on your team-mates' faces which says that you have worked hard, and the respect and cheers you get from them make you feel better and push yourself forward.
It's a mindset. It's something you actually tell yourself - it's self-motivation. It's the look on your team-mates' faces which says that you have worked hard, and the respect and cheers you get from them make you feel better and push yourself forward.
On the second-day pitch
The conditions made it difficult to score, as the ball was not really coming on to the bat, but I decided to occupy the crease for as long as possible. I have really worked hard for this tour and the support of the seniors has been of real help. It was difficult initially to play on this pitch, but once you got used to it, things became easier.
The conditions made it difficult to score, as the ball was not really coming on to the bat, but I decided to occupy the crease for as long as possible. I have really worked hard for this tour and the support of the seniors has been of real help. It was difficult initially to play on this pitch, but once you got used to it, things became easier.
On batting for a draw
Nobody plays for a draw. Our focus is to win the match.
Nobody plays for a draw. Our focus is to win the match.
On Zander de Bruyn's innings
I have played with Zander since my schooldays - we have played together for 15 years. He is a good friend and I feel happy for him. He is a tough guy, and he showed a lot of patience and maturity. It's great to have the partnership with him.
I have played with Zander since my schooldays - we have played together for 15 years. He is a good friend and I feel happy for him. He is a tough guy, and he showed a lot of patience and maturity. It's great to have the partnership with him.
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Murali Kartik
On the difference between the pitches at Mumbai and Kanpur
Honestly, I never looked at the wicket, like many others in the side. The few who saw it felt that it was a very good batting wicket and probably by the third day it might turn. It has turn, but very slow, and the most important thing is that even the bat-pads are just landing within the area of the wicket. So from that you can gauge the bounce and the carry. It's not a question of just the ball turning, it's a question of the ball carrying after it pitches.
Honestly, I never looked at the wicket, like many others in the side. The few who saw it felt that it was a very good batting wicket and probably by the third day it might turn. It has turn, but very slow, and the most important thing is that even the bat-pads are just landing within the area of the wicket. So from that you can gauge the bounce and the carry. It's not a question of just the ball turning, it's a question of the ball carrying after it pitches.
How the South African batsmen played
I heard someone saying that patience is the key. I don't know what kind of mental set-up they have come up with, probably just to draw or not to make a match of it. That's what it looks like.
I heard someone saying that patience is the key. I don't know what kind of mental set-up they have come up with, probably just to draw or not to make a match of it. That's what it looks like.
When was he told he would play
On the morning yesterday, as lots of things had to be taken into consideration.
On the morning yesterday, as lots of things had to be taken into consideration.
Whether the batsmen's approach surprised the Indians
No, you have a general idea of what they can do after having played against them and having watched them. You can take it as an excuse, but all the four bowlers felt that they did everything but that the pitch didn't respond. One example could be the two bouncers bowled by Zaheer yesterday, which still could only hit the toe of the bat. With that you can detect the [lack of] life in the pitch, which has been a deterrent.
No, you have a general idea of what they can do after having played against them and having watched them. You can take it as an excuse, but all the four bowlers felt that they did everything but that the pitch didn't respond. One example could be the two bouncers bowled by Zaheer yesterday, which still could only hit the toe of the bat. With that you can detect the [lack of] life in the pitch, which has been a deterrent.
On the negative line adopted by the spinners, bowling into the rough
Most of the time yesterday we were having three close-in fielders - we had a short leg, a silly point and a slip, even when we were bowling from over the wicket. I don't know why people say it was negative, because on a first-day wicket when there was nothing happening we had to try something. Just change the angle, hope that something would happen after bowling in the rough - a couple of balls did something, but not consistently. Today we didn't do that till late, because we felt that we needed to defend runs and not give anything away. And at one stage both [Andrew] Hall and [Zander] de Bruyn took the attack to us - de Bruyn managed to hit two sixes. So we went to defend then.
Most of the time yesterday we were having three close-in fielders - we had a short leg, a silly point and a slip, even when we were bowling from over the wicket. I don't know why people say it was negative, because on a first-day wicket when there was nothing happening we had to try something. Just change the angle, hope that something would happen after bowling in the rough - a couple of balls did something, but not consistently. Today we didn't do that till late, because we felt that we needed to defend runs and not give anything away. And at one stage both [Andrew] Hall and [Zander] de Bruyn took the attack to us - de Bruyn managed to hit two sixes. So we went to defend then.
On what is a good pitch for India's bowlers
It's a very debatable point. As a bowler, what I expect is some zip of the wicket, some carry for the efforts a bowler puts in. The bowlers are making an effort ... it's just that sometimes, after two days' play, we know what the wicket is like. They have also applied themselves, so give credit to them that they haven't given it away.
It's a very debatable point. As a bowler, what I expect is some zip of the wicket, some carry for the efforts a bowler puts in. The bowlers are making an effort ... it's just that sometimes, after two days' play, we know what the wicket is like. They have also applied themselves, so give credit to them that they haven't given it away.
Nagraj Gollapudi is sub editor of Wisden Asia Cricket magazine.