‘T20s let you play all your shots’

Mike Veletta the former Australia wicketkeeperbatsman who scored a 31ball 45 not out in the 1987 Cricket World Cup final triumph over England says he wouldrsquove enjoyed playing T20 cricketVeletta had a strike rate of 7538 in his ODI career quick in those days when T20 was nowhere in the pictureldquoI was never a powerhitter Steve Waugh wrote in his book I was one of those great improvisers It was about using the pace of the ball and rotating the strike Irsquod have loved to play T20 Itrsquos an excuse to play bad shots Yoursquore almost gifted the opportunity to play shots that you wish to I would love to be fielding of it Things that Bobby Simpson Australia coach taught us about cutting off the angles cutting down the twos those parts of the game really excite merdquo Veletta in the city for a pleasure trip told midday on MondayVeletta along with his longtime friend Peter Cutler a banker by profession but largely a cricket fanatic serving the Western Australian Cricket Association as an independent board member watched the CSKSRH match in Chennai last week and the MILSG game in Mumbai on Sunday ldquoI loved it They say the AFL grand final in Australia is the biggest event the loudest and most emotional Many said the IPL is like the AFL grand final on steroids Irsquove experienced it It was very loud In Chennai they gave everyone whistlesrdquo he saidAlso ReadBihar chief minister announces Rs 10 lakh rewardMike Veletta part of Australiarsquos 1987 World Cupwinning team in the city on Monday PicG KrishnanDrama at the Tied TestVeletta was a member of the Australian squad that was involved in the Tied Test II in Chennai in September 1986 carrying out the 12th manrsquos duties and also fielding for an unwell Dean Jones who fought his way to 210Veletta 61 who works in the property business in Perth besides coaching privately recalled that Chennai tie ldquoIt was extreme heat and the effort of Jones was beyond belief It was his chance to cement himself as a great Test player When he fell ill he said to captain Allan Border lsquoIrsquom ill Irsquove gotta leave the fieldrsquo And Allanrsquos response was lsquoyou go and wersquoll get a tough Queenslander outrsquo Being a Victorian that was the fire that fuelled Jones to keep batting to a point where he lost control of all his bodily functions Full credit to Border and Simpson they had the courage to declare on the last day giving India a run chase It gives me goosebumps to recall I had the great fortune of playing with Allan captain courageous a fantastic leader and an awesome person I was very grateful to be part of that era where Australia was starting to resurgerdquoVeletta was involved in the run out of Border in the 1987 World Cup final He recalled that too ldquoWe had a great experience in India 12 months before We worked hard on our fielding and Allan had a simple game plan In the final Border took the crucial wicket of Mike Gatting We were fortunate to have the support of the Indians because India had lost to England in Mumbai in the semifinal and we had beaten Pakistan in Lahore So that endeared us to the Indian crowdThat Border run outldquoWalking out to bat I thought lsquoif Irsquom going to deliver this is my great chancersquo Many accused me of running Border out but ABrsquos never ever accused me Allan and I shared 73 for the fifth wicket It was a great opportunity to bat with the captainrdquoAnd the rewards for winning the World Cup Veletta said ldquoI did get my bonus cheque of 930 Though not very significant it boosted our confidencerdquoatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params