Interview with Franklyn Rose

Franklyn Albert Rose, the tall, 28 year old out-swinging Jamaican fast bowler, is on a mission. With only 37 wickets from his 13 Test matches, at an ordinary average of 29.56 runs per wicket, he has been branded by some in power as a "non-tryer", while others have suggested that he is too much of a "profiler." To many, he seems more concerned about his physical appearances, on and off of the cricket field, than how he actually plays cricket on it. Perhaps those days are gone now. He seems much more responsible.

For one, I like Rose's present approach. While I sometimes also thought that he could have been a bit more serious about his efforts in the past, I have no such complaints now about Franklyn Rose. This guy is nearly as ready as he will ever be for the big time. His time could well be now.

While I think, from a fast bowling perspective, that Rose still needs some "building up", especially in his lower legs, for real stamina, at least he is focussed psychologically, and ready to take on the mantle of successor to the aging giants, Courtney Walsh of Jamaica and Curtly Ambrose of Antigua & Barbuda and the Leeward Islands.

Rose, along with Guyana's Reon King, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and the Windward Islands' Nixon McLean and Trinidad & Tobago's Mervyn Dillon, now make up the second tier, or the successors, to the West Indian fast bowling throne. None, though, have really taken the step to be the front runner.

After the Jamaican cricket team had won the 2000 Busta Cup, the symbol of first class cricket supremacy in the Caribbean, I managed to catch up with a very excited, elated, confident and tremendously bubbly Franklyn Rose, to ask his assessment as to how things have gone so far for him in 2000, and maybe to suggest what we should expect from him in the future.

Now, having been selected to the final 13 for the 1st Test against Zimbabwe, Rose have it all to prove. His destiny is in his hands.

Colin Croft (CC): Franklyn, you have had a really good first class season for Jamaica in 2000, getting 22 wickets in the series. You did not bowl at all well in the last tour of New Zealand. Please explain your quick and rather successful comeback.

Franklyn Rose (FR): Yes, I am very, very pleased with my performances this year in the Busta Cup. I know that I did not do so well in New Zealand and that was a very disappointing tour for the team, but more so for me personally. I must give great credit to my coach, Robert Haynes, and to my personal physical fitness trainer, David Burnham. They have been working very hard with me and the results have been pretty good.

CC: You look very organized in your approach and deliveries, with good rhythm and excellent high-arm movement. However, there was, and perhaps still is, a small question mark about your overall fitness as regards your legs and especially your ankles. Any comment on that?

FR: I did not, nor do I now have, an ankle problem. I did have some stiffness behind my knee. I have been having several massages from the physiotherapist and everything seems to be okay. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

CC: Do you have any particular projections for yourself as regards the Zimbabweans and the Pakistanis who are the tourists this year?

FR: My biggest problem, at least in my mind, is "No Balls". I have been bowling too many of them. I know I have to work really hard in the nets to correct this continuing problem. I know that I have a lot of work to do.

CC: You, Reon King, Nixon McLean and Merve Dillon are perhaps the successors of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose. Sooner rather than later, you will have to take over the responsibility of being one of the senior fast bowlers. Are you ready for this responsibility?

FR: Oh yes! Definitely. I have been playing with them for the last three years now and I recognize that it is very hard work to even try to be in those guys' shoes. I enjoy bowling with them. Whenever they leave, they will be sadly missed, but I think that we can replace them adequately.

CC: So what do you bring to the game that is so special that could be compared to the efforts of those two wonderful, but aging, fast bowlers?

FR: I am not really comparing myself with them. They are world class bowlers. I am just starting my career and I am pretty young. I know that it will take a lot of work to reach where those boys are now. I wish myself all the luck. Hopefully, I will stay fit and keep away from any trouble and focus on the cricket.

CC: You have had some bad times. You bowled excellently in South Africa, getting seven wickets at Durban, then was immediately injured. You had some problems with that tour and also with New Zealand. How did you manage to refocus yourself after such a recent past to be such a good bowler this year?

FR: Before New Zealand, I was away from the game for about a year, for various reasons (smile). Going to New Zealand, I knew that I lacked bowling practice. For this year's Busta Cup, I put a lot into the preparation for the tournament and the cricket season. Obviously, the hard work has paid off in the way I have played.

CC: You have a bit of a reputation of being a "wild boy?" Explain that please. Where did that come from?

FR: (Laugh): Not really. You know, there will always be rumors, especially when things do not go your way, there will always be rumors. The good thing about this is not to get carried away with all of the foolishness, but to put it behind me and to focus on the cricket.

CC: I must say that I have been quite impressed by your efforts. Is there any special element of your life, either cricket-wise or off the field of play; any special regimen you will put into action, for the international series here and perhaps for the tour of England, if selected?

FR: Hopefully, I can just keep doing what I am doing now. My main aim now is to keep the ball up and away from the right handed batsman. Continue to focus, especially when everything seems to be going well. I am sure that if I maintain my discipline, on and off of the field, in thought and deed, then things should go my way.

CC: You have got a new coach in Roger Harper. You would have played with and against him in a few games. Any comments on what you expect of the new coach and the new management team, for that matter?

FR: Firstly, I want to congratulate Roger on his appointment. I sincerely hope that things work out between us. I know that he is a great coach and I intend to listen to him at all times. He has done well with the West Indies "A" team and hopefully, working with me, things will go well. One is never too old to learn, especially me. I am still in the upward learning curve. Things should work well between the two of us.

CC: You last Test captain, Brian Lara, has taken a rest from the cricket overall. You now have a new Test captain in Jimmy Adams, someone you are very familiar with. Does this in any way change your attitude to the game and your efforts?

FR: It really does not matter who is the captain. Of course I know Jimmy well and I am very comfortable around him and with his captaincy. However, it really comes down to one thing. When the captain gives the ball to me, he expects that I will be always ready, and able, to perform. Once he gives the instructions as to what he wants, then it would be up to me to respond to his wishes. I can only do my best. At least, I am certain that noone will ever have anything but good to say about my efforts. I am much more mature now, after this last year, and I can tell you that I intend to be the best fast bowler playing for the West Indies in the not too distant future. I know that you are a tough marker, Crofty, when it comes to West Indies players and their performances. I can promise now that you will be very proud of my efforts. Hopefully, I can get some success too.

As a former West Indies fast bowler, I could say that Rose seems to be saying the right things. Let us all hope that he does them too, as actions speak much louder than words. Later this week, he will have a chance to put everything he thinks into practice. There is nowhere for him to hide.