'Nothing scares me'
But for the Apartheid-era isolation, Ray Jennings would probably be remembered as one of the world's great wicketkeepers
Dileep Premachandran
29-Dec-2004
But for the Apartheid-era isolation, Ray Jennings would probably be remembered as one of the world's great wicketkeepers, on a par with Rodney Marsh, Bob Taylor, Syed Kirmani, Wasim Bari and Jeff Dujon. Forced to play his cricket in isolation, Jennings was an integral part of a great Transvaal side - Graeme Pollock, Clive Rice and Vintcent van der Bijl were among the other stalwarts - that would have wiped the floor with most international opposition back in the late 1970s and early '80s. After a successful if controversial stint in charge of Easterns, Jennings was pitchforked into the national spotlight as South African cricket continued its freefall. He talked about the road to recovery and the unique challenges that confront South African cricket:
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You could have been one of the alltime-great wicketkeepers yourself, but for isolation. Does knowing the value of that Test cap make you an uncompromising taskmaster?
A lot of us wake up and take for granted that we have arms and legs, and even air to breathe. As a cricketer, you're paid to do something that you love, and on top of that, you get to be a hero in your country. I didn't have that. Maybe that's why I'm more passionate than some players. That scares me.
A lot of us wake up and take for granted that we have arms and legs, and even air to breathe. As a cricketer, you're paid to do something that you love, and on top of that, you get to be a hero in your country. I didn't have that. Maybe that's why I'm more passionate than some players. That scares me.
England are favourites to win the series. What will your attitude be?
I might have 11 inexperienced players, but we will make our mark on our grounds, in front of our spectators. We will not lie down. Even if you're the underdog, you want to compete. The public and the players may have a certain mindset, but as far as I'm concerned, you can be the best in the world and lose to the worst. I start every match as the underdog. You won't take control of a series just by playing at home. We may play great cricket and still lose five in a row. My job is to ensure that we play to the standards we're capable of.
I might have 11 inexperienced players, but we will make our mark on our grounds, in front of our spectators. We will not lie down. Even if you're the underdog, you want to compete. The public and the players may have a certain mindset, but as far as I'm concerned, you can be the best in the world and lose to the worst. I start every match as the underdog. You won't take control of a series just by playing at home. We may play great cricket and still lose five in a row. My job is to ensure that we play to the standards we're capable of.
There is no fear of England, and the record they have built up then?
Any side when under pressure will show weakness. They've played a lot of their cricket at home, and it's given them momentum. On the other hand, when they leave their shores, they could get a big fright. They're on a good run, rated No. 2 in the world. But maybe their skills haven't been tested enough. I remember watching England a couple of years ago, and I recall a game where they couldn't seem to figure out who to pick. That's how quickly the wheel can turn.
Any side when under pressure will show weakness. They've played a lot of their cricket at home, and it's given them momentum. On the other hand, when they leave their shores, they could get a big fright. They're on a good run, rated No. 2 in the world. But maybe their skills haven't been tested enough. I remember watching England a couple of years ago, and I recall a game where they couldn't seem to figure out who to pick. That's how quickly the wheel can turn.
Will you focus on individuals like Steve Harmison and Michael Vaughan and resort to a little mental disintegration?
Top players can handle heat. Someone like [Andrew] Flintoff has grown as a cricketer. But we have to make sure that they know how good they really are. If we were to say that we're worried about Harmison or Flintoff, that would be the wrong attitude.
Top players can handle heat. Someone like [Andrew] Flintoff has grown as a cricketer. But we have to make sure that they know how good they really are. If we were to say that we're worried about Harmison or Flintoff, that would be the wrong attitude.
How can you win?
The side that takes the breaks at the right time and makes the least mistakes will win. Both teams will create periods of pressure, it's about who can turn the tap on when it matters.
The side that takes the breaks at the right time and makes the least mistakes will win. Both teams will create periods of pressure, it's about who can turn the tap on when it matters.
What's your view on the media painting you as this draconian individual?
I'm not a disciplinarian [laughs]. People over-rate what they hear and see. I'm trying to set up parameters by which we can be the second-best team in the world, and I'll be uncompromising in making sure that the standards are met. I'm really a soft guy. But South African cricket needs a hard man. It's like a kid jumping on the couch. You need to stick to rules. They can't be one thing at five in the morning, and something else at six in the evening.
I'm not a disciplinarian [laughs]. People over-rate what they hear and see. I'm trying to set up parameters by which we can be the second-best team in the world, and I'll be uncompromising in making sure that the standards are met. I'm really a soft guy. But South African cricket needs a hard man. It's like a kid jumping on the couch. You need to stick to rules. They can't be one thing at five in the morning, and something else at six in the evening.
South African rugby disgraced itself in the run-up to the World Cup last year by conducting Kamp Staaldraad. Would you ever resort to such measures in pursuit of success?
The coaching camps are based around where we're going and what we're doing, and intensity. Before India, we went to the Chamber of Mines and got the guys training at 90% humidity. We woke them up at 4.30 in the morning so that they'd acclimatise to the different time zone. We got balls from India, we ripped the wickets up. I was preparing the guys mentally, and challenging them. That's my job. If that's seen as an army camp, so be it. Some of the guys were playing at their own levels. And they'd often been unhappy in sub-continental conditions. I wanted to see how short their fuses were.
The coaching camps are based around where we're going and what we're doing, and intensity. Before India, we went to the Chamber of Mines and got the guys training at 90% humidity. We woke them up at 4.30 in the morning so that they'd acclimatise to the different time zone. We got balls from India, we ripped the wickets up. I was preparing the guys mentally, and challenging them. That's my job. If that's seen as an army camp, so be it. Some of the guys were playing at their own levels. And they'd often been unhappy in sub-continental conditions. I wanted to see how short their fuses were.
What would you say to those who consider your methods primitive?
I'd say that they don't know what they're talking about. I'm quite versatile, I use a lot of technology, and I'm a creative thinker too. I've run my own business. I'm a schoolteacher. I see coaching mainly as a way of removing blockages - whether that's in technique, understanding someone's finances or even their wives. I have to promote bonding. Some days, it's not about technology, it's about feel.
I'd say that they don't know what they're talking about. I'm quite versatile, I use a lot of technology, and I'm a creative thinker too. I've run my own business. I'm a schoolteacher. I see coaching mainly as a way of removing blockages - whether that's in technique, understanding someone's finances or even their wives. I have to promote bonding. Some days, it's not about technology, it's about feel.
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Have you looked at the way John Buchanan, Duncan Fletcher or John Wright have worked?
I don't think looking at others will help me. I have to put my own stamp on world cricket. I was good enough to play at this level, but I couldn't. This is my chance to show the passion I had as a player. Nothing scares me. As a player, I was my own judge. I took catches that I thought were the best in the world, even if no-one else was watching.
I don't think looking at others will help me. I have to put my own stamp on world cricket. I was good enough to play at this level, but I couldn't. This is my chance to show the passion I had as a player. Nothing scares me. As a player, I was my own judge. I took catches that I thought were the best in the world, even if no-one else was watching.
Where do you stand on transformation issues?
Look, I'm a coach who's given a group of players to work with. My task is to give them a better work culture that will allow them to be more effective on the field. I don't make the policies. I focus on cricket, and transformation issues are of no relevance to me.
Look, I'm a coach who's given a group of players to work with. My task is to give them a better work culture that will allow them to be more effective on the field. I don't make the policies. I focus on cricket, and transformation issues are of no relevance to me.
But there has been a real exodus out of South Africa in recent seasons? Can you afford to lose players like Kevin Pietersen?
The system has to be honest in that a player knows where he fits in. Allan Lamb, Kepler Wessels, Basil D'Oliveira - South African cricket has lost a lot of players. These days, we have the cases of Claude Henderson, Nic Pothas and Sven Koenig. There will be more Pietersens leaving unless they're told where they fit in. I can mention the case of Zander de Bruyn. He nearly gave it up three years ago. I pulled him back and have grown him into a quality cricketer. So it's not just guys leaving, it's within the system too.
The system has to be honest in that a player knows where he fits in. Allan Lamb, Kepler Wessels, Basil D'Oliveira - South African cricket has lost a lot of players. These days, we have the cases of Claude Henderson, Nic Pothas and Sven Koenig. There will be more Pietersens leaving unless they're told where they fit in. I can mention the case of Zander de Bruyn. He nearly gave it up three years ago. I pulled him back and have grown him into a quality cricketer. So it's not just guys leaving, it's within the system too.
And the rumours that Mark Boucher was cast aside because his attitude was seen to be poor?
Look at how England handled Graham Thorpe. You don't need to drop a Boucher or a Thorpe to get a reaction out of them. You need to educate them along the way instead.
Look at how England handled Graham Thorpe. You don't need to drop a Boucher or a Thorpe to get a reaction out of them. You need to educate them along the way instead.
Where does your nickname, Jet, come from?
(Laughs) After Jet Jungle, the world's strongest man according a popular programme from my playing days. I was quite fanatical about my fitness, used to dive around on mattresses even to prepare for provincial games.
(Laughs) After Jet Jungle, the world's strongest man according a popular programme from my playing days. I was quite fanatical about my fitness, used to dive around on mattresses even to prepare for provincial games.
Who was your biggest source of inspiration?
Clive Rice [his captain at Transvaal]. He had an amazing ability to lead from the front with his skills and energy.
Clive Rice [his captain at Transvaal]. He had an amazing ability to lead from the front with his skills and energy.
Missing out on Test cricket is obviously a gaping wound, but as a player what was your biggest regret?
If I could have played any game, I'd have chosen England at Lord's. I played against Gatting's rebel side, and went abroad for the first time that year. When I went to Lord's, I wasn't allowed in. At the time, I might have been the best [wicketkeeper] in the world, but I wasn't even allowed in. I carry that hurt with me.
If I could have played any game, I'd have chosen England at Lord's. I played against Gatting's rebel side, and went abroad for the first time that year. When I went to Lord's, I wasn't allowed in. At the time, I might have been the best [wicketkeeper] in the world, but I wasn't even allowed in. I carry that hurt with me.
What keeps you going?
I'm driven by what I've missed. I was 18 when I kept one weekend with Alan Knott. I idolised the guy, but I never even watched a ball bowled overseas until I went to India [as coach].
I'm driven by what I've missed. I was 18 when I kept one weekend with Alan Knott. I idolised the guy, but I never even watched a ball bowled overseas until I went to India [as coach].
Click here for the first part of the interview.