The first cut - Aavishkar Salvi
The first day on the job is special for every cricketer, and in the September issue of Wisden Asia Cricket , four debutants - Aavishkar Salvi, Jacques Rudolph , Mohammad Hafeez and Omari Banks - talk about their baptism in international
Wisden Asia Cricket
02-Sep-2003
The first day on the job is special for every cricketer, and in the September issue of Wisden Asia Cricket, four debutants - Aavishkar Salvi, Jacques Rudolph, Mohammad Hafeez and Omari Banks - talk about their baptism in international cricket.
"I was shocked when Sourav said, `Salvi, you're starting'."
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Aavishkar Salvi © AFP 2003 |
"So far everything in my cricketing life has happened suddenly. I only opted to pursue cricket instead of engineering at the very late age of 18. I played two games for the Mumbai Under-19s and was still not sure of my decision when I attended the Frank Tyson camp at the Wankhede in 2000. His guidance and belief in me removed all remaining doubts.
"The following year I was picked for the Mumbai Ranji team and my first match was against Maharashtra. Hoping to take five wickets I ended up with one. But I did take a five-for on my one-day debut against the same opponents. A lesson was learnt: set goals, but don't get depressed if they are not met instantly.
"Midway into my second season, I was selected for the India A tour of the West Indies, where I finished as the highest wicket-taker with 29 at 18.55. To do well on those placid tracks felt good.
"So I wasn't surprised when I heard that I was picked for the TVS Cup, and felt proud seeing my name in the media. I thought of how a boy from Thane who had no cricketing dreams had progressed to make his debut for the country.
"On the eve of my first game I was calm and wanted to just go out there and perform. Next morning I was shocked when Sourav [Ganguly] tossed the new ball to me, saying, "Salvi, you are starting." I was sure I would bowl first change after Zaheer [Khan] and Ajit [Agarkar]. I measured my mark to 20 paces, closed my eyes, thought of my parents, Tyson Sir, and all the wickets I had taken. All this took four seconds.Then I bowled my first ball and was immediately confident that I would take wickets, and I did take one with my fourth ball.
"I had mailed Tyson Sir after my selection and he acknowledged it by writing, `You have done it a thousand times earlier, you can do it hundred times more'. Words enough to inspire me anytime."
Aavishkar Salvi has played three one-dayers this season with a bowling average of 24.25 and a wicket in his very first over. He was interviewed by Nagraj Gollapudi.
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