Ian Healy: Dhoni has much to gain from this tour

Perth: Ian Healy was, for years, the most successful wicketkeeper in Test cricket. On Friday, the 43-year-old spoke to The Telegraph.

The following are excerpts

On his impressions of Mahendra Singh Dhoni

I first saw him in Sri Lanka during a limited overs tournament in 2005 and I’ve been impressed with the way he’s developed as a person and as a ’keeper... It’s remarkable that he’s even led India (in ODIs and Twenty20) while his own game is developing...

On the importance of the ongoing tour for Dhoni

It’s one big learning curve for him... This tour, perhaps, is where he’ll learn the most and I must say it has come at the right time for him.

On Dhoni, at one time, having been a strong contender for the Test captaincy too

It’s good that your selectors didn’t give him that responsibility... ’Keeping to (Anil) Kumble and worrying about what others are doing would’ve been too much for Dhoni... Kumble won’t be around for too long and, so, it’s good that Dhoni has got this opportunity to work with such a senior pro... Dhoni, as I see it, has much to gain from this tour.

On his experience of having captained in ODIs, in a stand-in capacity

I did feel I had to do too many things... Captaincy probably won’t make a difference if you’re steamrolling opponents and if you don’t have to ’keep to many spinners... But, if you’ve got a fight on your hands, then it’s definitely going to be tough.

On Adam Gilchrist who, at 36, isn’t getting any younger

He can continue for as long as he wants... We’ve had a pretty easy 12 months, but there’s lots of cricket in the next 12... If he has the energy and is playing for the right reasons, then he can continue beyond next summer too.

On whether, in the lead-up to his retirement (in 1999), he’d grown tired mentally

Indeed, yes... It became a mental thing... I’d stopped enjoying practice, when my game was built around a solid preparation... Then, there was the pressure of having to perform day in and day out and not make mistakes... That began getting to me... I also started feeling it physically.

On Australia’s current No.2 ’keeper, Brad Haddin

I rate him extremely highly and he’s as competent as any in the world. However if Gilchrist continues for, say, two-three seasons then the selectors will probably need to get somebody younger.

On Mark Boucher, the most successful ’keeper

He’s good and is a fierce competitor... Besides, he has quite a few years left in him...

On ’keepers today being more conscious that they’ve got to be good batters as well

I think this trend began in the 1970s... Having said that, you still need to be making dismissals and not missing dismissals. Left to me I wouldn’t sacrifice any ’keeping quality for the sake of a few runs... For me, it has to be an out and out specialist.

On the skills needed by a ’keeper

The ’keeper has to be technically sound otherwise his game will come apart at the highest level... He’s got to have agility and should be able to set fielding standards... The basic skills have to be displayed ball in and ball out... Indeed, everybody can’t ’keep...

On whether one has to be born a ’keeper

The qualities have to be recognised early and, then, developed... The ’keeper has to be a pretty natural catcher and a pretty natural mover... The natural instincts have to be moulded into ’keeping techniques... One needs time to develop.

On working with the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane

I work with the country’s elite ’keepers there... Besides, I’m available for individuals... Tomorrow, if Dhoni wants to have a chat, I’ll be available.

On whether there’s a standout ’keeper on the circuit

Gilchrist’s as good as any and I quite like Sri Lanka’s Prasanna Jayawardene... In the years to come, he’ll be talked about in a big way.

On the dearth of standout ’keepers

(Smiles) Don’t know why... Could be because there’s too much cricket... Could be because, nowadays, the ’keepers are less flamboyant... Difficult to pin a reason.

On whether that could be because the present-day ’keepers are probably paying more attention to their batting

I think so, but that can’t be an excuse...

On a ’keeper constantly having to remain in the switched-on mode

With so much responsibility, you can’t afford not to... Mental toughness, for me, is the ability to watch the ball when the pressure’s on and to react.

Finally, his message to budding ’keepers

Watch the ball... If you’re doing that and moving well, you can rarely go wrong.

News Source : Samachar