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The Mohinder Amarnath Chat

And ironically, he appeared live on Rediff Chat on the very day the selectors perpetrated their biggest joke in recent times - the team to South Africa.

Nothing ever changes certainly not Mohinder Amarnath who, as is his habit, was frank and forthright, incisive and insightful...

This is what he had to say...

Prem Panicker (Tue Dec 10 18:52:08 1996 IST):

Testing...

Hello!!!

hi prem. any news on the 16 for rsa ?

Hello!, Is Mr. Mohinder Amarnath in?

Hi waiting for your questions.

Ladies and gents, with us, the one and only MOHINDER AMARNATH... a round of applause, please, for Indian cricket's most enduring personality

Hello!, Mr Amarnath I would like to know what do you think about the selection process in India?

Hello!, Mr. Amarnath What are your comments on India's performance in this series?

Hello, I am from Fiji, Indian native, I would like to know why are we still with the quota system in our selection process? Is this not the high time to go away with it? What are your comments Mr. Amarnath?

Sunny: I think perfprmance of the Indian side is pretty good and that they'll do well in this match also. I think we have a very good young team, needing some more experience and in a year or tow we will be one of the best sides in the world.

Mr Amarnath, would you say that the process of rebuilding, of putting together a young team for the future, is now complete? Or are there more players you would like to see coming in?

Mr Amarnath... you said a long time ago that the Indian selectors were jokers. Are they, still? And allow me to say, sir, that your performance in 1983 is one of my enduring cricketing memories...

From one Jimmy to another, HI!!!

Mr Amarnath, We are still struggling with the opening slot, what are your comments, whom do you see as the best pair for our openning slot?

Hi Jimmy, how you doin maan...

One more on the present Indian team - what seems to be the problem with finding an opener?

What was it that you liked the best about 1983? (besides winning The Cup, that is)

Jimmy when do you think they will stop juggling around with poor Dravid?? the better he plays, the lower down he seems to go the batting order. What would you do if you were the team manager??

Smith: It is not the quota system I think the selctors are not really upto the mark if you look at the persent selection committe only 2 or 3 selectors have played for India that means the other tow are lacking in experience of the internatioanl level so I would suggest that when they have a selection committe they should all be test cricketeers with the minimum qualification of 25 test matches. So I'm very hopeful and that they would get into this act and if we have all test players as selectors then we wil have a fair selction everytime.

Jimmy, don't you think that the "bunch of jokers" were a bit harsh on Azharuddin. He sure is playing good today. Surely they could have been a bit more patient with him, and retained him captain. Your comments.

Hi Jimmy ! What do you think about having coaches for each and every department of cricket ? Just like having a coach for slip fielding, a coach for slogging...

Hey, guys, Mr Amarnath is taking your questions in detail, so give him time on each, huh, please?

Leg Stump: I would have a permanent batting order but of course you can change the batting order if it is required but it i s al;ways good for the youngsters to have one batting order whatever number is bartting and doing well,. Dravid is avery fine player and I'm sure he'll be around for a very long time but he should not be opening the batting.

No huh

Thanks Mr. Amarnath, I would like to know your views on Quota system, why do many times players have to change the zones to get attention of selectors, is this not because of quota system??

Jimmy, I was always amused by your "open stance" while batting. I also copied it shamelessly while playing for my college to good effect. Now that I am chatting with yuo, will you pls. explain the reason you developed such a stance or was it a natural??

Among the jokers who dropped you, who was the ace primarily responsible for the decision? don't you think it is time we in India know how jokers fool around with our national team

James: THE REASON HE has been removed from captaincy has nothing to do with his potential as a cricketeer he lost his form particularly that year and he was not scoring runs and that was the main reason he was sacked and Sachin had taken over, if he had been scoring runs then I don't see any change would have taken over the captaincy that year, but it has happened good for the Indian team and he is a more relaxed man and is playing his best cricket.

Leg Stump; I belive that Open Stance is always useful against pace ballers and al good and great players have slightly open stance this makes them lay short stuff with more comfort and we have noticed in these series that even Azhar has changed his stance and has been very sucessful.

Hey Jimmy, thanks for the reply. How about replying to some of the other queries?

Jimmy Sir, I use to admire your bowling and you as utility allrounder dor ODI's, and now I see Robin Singh as a potential allrounder as you because of his slow medium bowling like your's, what do you think about him??

James: It has been happening a long long time but nobody has talked abbout it or said anything as such this is why I suggested earlier that we should have only test cricketeers and this will stop the ill treatment to those who have served their country for years. It is always a combined selction, I would blame the entireselection committe and not one person as such,.

Mr Amarnath, what happened to you in your career appears to be happening today to Sanjay Manjrekar, to Navjot Sidhu, to so many others. Could you tell us what a player who has been dropped for no reason do to keep himself motivated? What did you do, in that situation?

Thanks Jimmy. Now coming to your bowling action. I think it was one of the laziest actions. You used to actually amble into the crease. How did you manage the swing and maintain the consisteancy and accuracy of your deliveries. I was always puzzled by the action. Can you pls. share the secret??

Photograph: Jewella Miranda