Mid day catches up with Sunny Gavaskar down under, where he received a Bradman honour yesterday
Mid day catches up with Sunny Gavaskar down under, where he received a Bradman honour yesterdayu00a0
Last night India's all-time great opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar and Australia's ebullient wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist were made Sir Donald Bradman honourees for 2010 at a glittering function at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The previous honourees were all Australians: Norman O'Neill (2006), Neil Harvey and Sam Loxton (2007), Bill Brown and Arthur Morris (2008) and Alan Davidson and Dennis Lillee (2009).
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Excerpts from a chat:
"Sunny, your feelings on becoming the first non-Australian Bradman honouree, ahead of Sobers, Richards, Botham, Imran ufffd?
A huge honour, Kersi. I grew up hearing stories of Don and Vijay Merchant's big scoring, a century was not enough for them. They would go to 200 and 300.
Any recollections of Bradman?
I recall my first visit to Australia with the World XI led by Garry Sobers in 1971-72 with nostalgia. I met Sir Don for the first time on that tour. At a get-together, Don came round looking for 'that little fellow' ufffd me! When we two were having a chat, Sobers joked: 'Look at these little fellows together!' Don turned round and quipped: 'Big fellows have power. We little fellows have the footwork!'
The Test you recall with nostalgia?
My debut Test at Port-of-Spain in 1971 when I scored 60s in both innings and India won her first ever Test against the Windies.
Which bowler troubled you the most?
West Indies' Andy Roberts was the best. I could not relax against him even after scoring a century. He had more variety than any other bowler I faced and he could surprise.
The author is an Indian, based in Sydney, Australia.
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