'If we fight hard, we'll win some Tests'
Ray Price is becoming an increasingly respected bowler in international cricket and is Zinbabwe's leading spin bowler
John Ward
11-Nov-2003
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Ray Price: 'Talking to Greg Matthews was amazing' |
Ray Price is becoming an increasingly respected bowler in international cricket, and is Zimbabwe's leading spinner. John Ward caught up with him on his return from Zimbabwe's tour of Australia, and found that he had some rather surprising answers:
Has the Australian tour changed the way the Zimbabwe players think about themselves and their abilities?
Yes, we now believe we can win Test matches. It's a pity we didn't get Hayden out, because he was the key in that second innings in Sydney. If we had got him out, then I think we would have had a chance with the others. They had Gilchrist padded up next, another left-hander, so it would have been quite interesting. It was really encouraging for the guys to see that we can compete against the best. I think one thing the guys learned a lot of was to play their own games and be themselves, and not to be afraid to attack the bowlers. Now hopefully we will have that frame of mind again, and if we fight that hard against all our other opponents, I think we'll win some Tests this year.
Yes, we now believe we can win Test matches. It's a pity we didn't get Hayden out, because he was the key in that second innings in Sydney. If we had got him out, then I think we would have had a chance with the others. They had Gilchrist padded up next, another left-hander, so it would have been quite interesting. It was really encouraging for the guys to see that we can compete against the best. I think one thing the guys learned a lot of was to play their own games and be themselves, and not to be afraid to attack the bowlers. Now hopefully we will have that frame of mind again, and if we fight that hard against all our other opponents, I think we'll win some Tests this year.
What were your overall impressions of Australia as a country, and its inhabitants?
A beautiful country! They seem to be very organised there in all that they do. The streets and everywhere are so clean - but I missed home. They looked after us really well. They're great people and they were very hospitable. A lot of them are very easy to talk to, and so are their past players. For example, I chatted to Greg Matthews a lot. He was a finger-spinner like me, and when he came to the nets it was just amazing how forthcoming he was in all of his views on cricket - how we should play the game and how I should bowl. He gave the spin bowlers so many hints that helped us a lot along the way. I think I learned more in a month than I have in the last five years. We spent nearly two and a half hours in the Australian changing-room after the second Test. It was so nice to chat to their players and learn what they do from day to day, their training schedules, when they take rests and things like that It's all new in this country to play professional cricket and we want to try and become as good as they are.
A beautiful country! They seem to be very organised there in all that they do. The streets and everywhere are so clean - but I missed home. They looked after us really well. They're great people and they were very hospitable. A lot of them are very easy to talk to, and so are their past players. For example, I chatted to Greg Matthews a lot. He was a finger-spinner like me, and when he came to the nets it was just amazing how forthcoming he was in all of his views on cricket - how we should play the game and how I should bowl. He gave the spin bowlers so many hints that helped us a lot along the way. I think I learned more in a month than I have in the last five years. We spent nearly two and a half hours in the Australian changing-room after the second Test. It was so nice to chat to their players and learn what they do from day to day, their training schedules, when they take rests and things like that It's all new in this country to play professional cricket and we want to try and become as good as they are.
Your bowling seemed to improve greatly in Sydney compared with Perth ...
Yes, I think I was lucky because I chatted to Greg Matthews a lot before we played. I didn't see him before the first Test, where I think I bowled too flat, and my field settings weren't that great either - it made it easy for their scoring options. At Sydney I had better field settings which made them hit in areas where I wanted them to, and it made a huge difference. And it was also a psychological difference; I think in that first game I was a little afraid of them and I wasn't myself. But in the second I just decided I had to play the way I know, and I think that's when you're at your best - when you play the way you should, without trying to copy anybody else. So I bowled with a lot more flight and loop, and obviously the wicket helped a little more. The WACA was a really good wicket and not good for the spinners.
Yes, I think I was lucky because I chatted to Greg Matthews a lot before we played. I didn't see him before the first Test, where I think I bowled too flat, and my field settings weren't that great either - it made it easy for their scoring options. At Sydney I had better field settings which made them hit in areas where I wanted them to, and it made a huge difference. And it was also a psychological difference; I think in that first game I was a little afraid of them and I wasn't myself. But in the second I just decided I had to play the way I know, and I think that's when you're at your best - when you play the way you should, without trying to copy anybody else. So I bowled with a lot more flight and loop, and obviously the wicket helped a little more. The WACA was a really good wicket and not good for the spinners.
What was the team's and your game plan against Matthew Hayden - not that it worked too well?
He's just an amazing batter who loves to attack you from ball one and put you off your stride. My basic plan was to try and bowl him through the gate. He likes to sweep a lot, so try and get him to top-edge you with two men back square - but he just kept sweeping the ball! He's a big man and just hits the ball so hard. I don't think there was much more the guys could do, he just played so well. He has a big stride because he's so tall and is a really difficult guy to bowl to, especially when he's seeing the ball like that. In that 380, I think he mistimed two sixes that went into the back rows, one off me and one off Streaky. When a guy plays like that, you just have to go back to your basics and stick it out.
He's just an amazing batter who loves to attack you from ball one and put you off your stride. My basic plan was to try and bowl him through the gate. He likes to sweep a lot, so try and get him to top-edge you with two men back square - but he just kept sweeping the ball! He's a big man and just hits the ball so hard. I don't think there was much more the guys could do, he just played so well. He has a big stride because he's so tall and is a really difficult guy to bowl to, especially when he's seeing the ball like that. In that 380, I think he mistimed two sixes that went into the back rows, one off me and one off Streaky. When a guy plays like that, you just have to go back to your basics and stick it out.
You say you had a good relationship with the Australian players. Which of them did you get to know best?
I chatted to most of them, but especially with Brad Hogg and Stuart MacGill, because they're spinners and I tried to pick their brains and get as much as I could from them. They are really good guys, and the nice thing about them is that none of them is bigger than cricket. They understand the game, they're very passionate about it and they respect it. One of the most amazing things for me was just after I had taken six wickets, at the end of the day's play Adam Gilchrist walked off the field to our changing-rooms to say congratulations to me. That's the kind of respect they have for the game and the people who play it. I think we get on really well because we come from the same sort of backgrounds and a lot of our guys like outdoor sports. A few of the Australians love fishing and so do some of our guys. We just got on really well with them.
I chatted to most of them, but especially with Brad Hogg and Stuart MacGill, because they're spinners and I tried to pick their brains and get as much as I could from them. They are really good guys, and the nice thing about them is that none of them is bigger than cricket. They understand the game, they're very passionate about it and they respect it. One of the most amazing things for me was just after I had taken six wickets, at the end of the day's play Adam Gilchrist walked off the field to our changing-rooms to say congratulations to me. That's the kind of respect they have for the game and the people who play it. I think we get on really well because we come from the same sort of backgrounds and a lot of our guys like outdoor sports. A few of the Australians love fishing and so do some of our guys. We just got on really well with them.
What do you feel was Zimbabwe's main weakness on that tour?
I wouldn't say we had a specific weakness. If anything, we just couldn't get 20 wickets which we needed badly to do, as well our batters to make hundreds. So now a lot of our bowlers are trying to work on patterns and are working hard with Bruce Reid, who is brilliant, and Geoff Marsh is working with the batters. If a couple of guys can get hundreds in an innings then we'll start winning Test matches, and it will also give our bowlers more time to get them out.
I wouldn't say we had a specific weakness. If anything, we just couldn't get 20 wickets which we needed badly to do, as well our batters to make hundreds. So now a lot of our bowlers are trying to work on patterns and are working hard with Bruce Reid, who is brilliant, and Geoff Marsh is working with the batters. If a couple of guys can get hundreds in an innings then we'll start winning Test matches, and it will also give our bowlers more time to get them out.
Which players do you think got the most out of the tour?
Stuey Carlisle and Craig Wishart learned a lot, and Mark Vermeulen did as well. For Gavin Ewing, it's a hard debut against the Australians, but he learned a lot on the tour. He learned how hard Test cricket is, but I think he'll come back a better cricketer. He is obviously going to go away now and work really hard and he'll be up to the standard soon. Trevor Gripper is another one who really batted well, and so did Andy Blignaut. He's starting to realise he can actually bat again, in Test matches and not just in the one-dayers.
Stuey Carlisle and Craig Wishart learned a lot, and Mark Vermeulen did as well. For Gavin Ewing, it's a hard debut against the Australians, but he learned a lot on the tour. He learned how hard Test cricket is, but I think he'll come back a better cricketer. He is obviously going to go away now and work really hard and he'll be up to the standard soon. Trevor Gripper is another one who really batted well, and so did Andy Blignaut. He's starting to realise he can actually bat again, in Test matches and not just in the one-dayers.
What do you think is the way forward for Zimbabwe cricket now?
I think the way forward is for us to stick to the basics and work as hard as we can on them, like the Australians do. The nice thing is that we learned a lot from them, and it's also nice to be able to revert pressure on to another team. We've got to try and play as if we're not under pressure, and put pressure on other teams. We've got to start winning Test matches - that's why we play. We obviously want to get off the bottom of the pile and up the ladder, among countries like New Zealand and Pakistan. I think the domestic structure of the game here is fine, but I think some of the main players need more rest, especially guys like Streaky and Andy Blignaut, who bowl a lot. It's all right for me because I'm a spinner and I just trundle in, but others need a little more rest when we get home. But the more we play, the better we get. That's what we saw in Australia, that a lot of the guys like Steve and Mark Waugh still play club cricket at home, playing as much cricket as they can, and that's what we need to do. Players start competing with guys from the national side, and the guys from the national side have to do well; everyone is pushing everyone else up the ladder and the guys at the top have to play better or they will be replaced by someone else.
I think the way forward is for us to stick to the basics and work as hard as we can on them, like the Australians do. The nice thing is that we learned a lot from them, and it's also nice to be able to revert pressure on to another team. We've got to try and play as if we're not under pressure, and put pressure on other teams. We've got to start winning Test matches - that's why we play. We obviously want to get off the bottom of the pile and up the ladder, among countries like New Zealand and Pakistan. I think the domestic structure of the game here is fine, but I think some of the main players need more rest, especially guys like Streaky and Andy Blignaut, who bowl a lot. It's all right for me because I'm a spinner and I just trundle in, but others need a little more rest when we get home. But the more we play, the better we get. That's what we saw in Australia, that a lot of the guys like Steve and Mark Waugh still play club cricket at home, playing as much cricket as they can, and that's what we need to do. Players start competing with guys from the national side, and the guys from the national side have to do well; everyone is pushing everyone else up the ladder and the guys at the top have to play better or they will be replaced by someone else.
What differences did you find between conditions in Australia and those in England?
We actually saw some bare ground for a change instead of greenery all over the place! In England I had to bowl quite flat because the wickets are a lot greener and not as receptive to spin. So in Australia I bowled a little slower with more flight, and tried to do them with the flight and the drift of the ball. In England it was more of a back-up job where I had just to give the seamers a rest for a few overs, whereas in Australia I had a chance to dominate and to attack.
We actually saw some bare ground for a change instead of greenery all over the place! In England I had to bowl quite flat because the wickets are a lot greener and not as receptive to spin. So in Australia I bowled a little slower with more flight, and tried to do them with the flight and the drift of the ball. In England it was more of a back-up job where I had just to give the seamers a rest for a few overs, whereas in Australia I had a chance to dominate and to attack.
Have you ever played club cricket in England? Would you like to play county cricket, if you had the chance?
Yes, I had one season over there, playing in Surrey. I really enjoyed it, because when I toured England later I knew what the conditions were like and what to expect. I knew the ball would seam and swing around a lot, and how to bat and how to bowl. I'd love to play a season of county cricket if I could. I think I'd learn a lot. Watching some of the county pros, it's a lot of work, but it's great for anybody to go and play county cricket, as long as it doesn't interfere with your international career. If the wickets turned a lot, I think I might have got a chance. We'll see - I've always been striving for that. I've just got to take more wickets and make more runs.
Yes, I had one season over there, playing in Surrey. I really enjoyed it, because when I toured England later I knew what the conditions were like and what to expect. I knew the ball would seam and swing around a lot, and how to bat and how to bowl. I'd love to play a season of county cricket if I could. I think I'd learn a lot. Watching some of the county pros, it's a lot of work, but it's great for anybody to go and play county cricket, as long as it doesn't interfere with your international career. If the wickets turned a lot, I think I might have got a chance. We'll see - I've always been striving for that. I've just got to take more wickets and make more runs.
Which other spin bowlers do you particularly admire?
I talked to Greg Matthews and watched him bowl, and he's still brilliant. But the guy I really look at and try to be better than is Daniel Vettori. I'm aiming to be the best left-arm spinner in the world and he's in the No. 1 spot at the moment. It was nice to chat to MacGill and Shane Warne for a little bit; MacGill is my favourite just because of his sheer guts and determination. He'd make any Test side in the world easily, but because he lives in Australia he's been playing second fiddle to Shane Warne, but he's stuck it out and kept competing.
I talked to Greg Matthews and watched him bowl, and he's still brilliant. But the guy I really look at and try to be better than is Daniel Vettori. I'm aiming to be the best left-arm spinner in the world and he's in the No. 1 spot at the moment. It was nice to chat to MacGill and Shane Warne for a little bit; MacGill is my favourite just because of his sheer guts and determination. He'd make any Test side in the world easily, but because he lives in Australia he's been playing second fiddle to Shane Warne, but he's stuck it out and kept competing.