The Christmas of 1983 was special for a young, restless bloke from Newcastle.
Gregory Richard John Matthews made his debut for Australia, against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the years to come, the right-hand off-spinner, who batted left-handed, turned out to be one of Australia's most dependable all-rounders. In fact, the guy, who always led an unorthodox lifestyle, played the most crucial role in only the second tied Test in cricket history -- between India and Australia, at Chepauk, Madras, in September 1986.
"I vividly remember that match. I was conscious of the history that beckoned us. I was very keen on grabbing
that last wicket. I didn't want to let myself, my team or my country down," says the vibrant Aussie, who loved to
surprise people with his style and eccentricity, in a freewheeling chat with Cricket Correspondent Faisal Shariff at the Wankhede stadium on Wednesday, the second day of the first Test between India and Australia.
"So, I pushed the ball a little quicker though the air and it hit Maninder [Singh] on his pad, right in front. The umpire had the courage to raise the finger and history was created. And I was a part of it. The umpire was fair and had a
very good match."
Ask him about the 'baggy green' and you have a pompous exhibition of Aussie pride unfold.
"The baggy green ... has a deep sense of pride for it," he says, with a smile. "To have achieved for Australia as
a cricketer. It is our vision, our desire, second only to our family."
That rang a bell. Greg always bowled with his cap on. Why?
"My father bowled with his cap on. He left his legacy behind. And no, before you ask me, it does not distract me.
I wore it before I discovered 'Advanced Hair Studio'. I was losing hair," he laughs.
"But, seriously, I take great pride in wearing the green. It is very special to me. Whenever I am low I take it off
and look at it.
"My father played for Newcastle and worked seven days a week to bring us up. I wear it because it reminds me of
him," he adds.
You have always been a very colourful character...
I am a people's person. Children look to me and like what I am. I have always enjoyed the company of people.
My mom taught me to be what I was. 'What you see is what you get' is my motto. Variety is the spice of life. It
is important for me to be the way I feel at a particular moment. No two people are the same and that is the
beauty of this world. That, to my mind, is the beauty that we are the supreme beings of this universe. I loved
playing the game my way. Some people talk, some sledge, some chew their nails; I loved to dance to keep
myself entertained. I found that it helped me relieve the tension.
Did it ever affect your cricket?
Never. Would anyone want to score one less Test run or take one less Test wicket to be colourful? That to me
is the height of stupidity. You need to concentrate, but just for that split second when you are about to deliver
the ball, or when you are about to play a stroke. You can't be so intense all the time; it doesn’t help.
What is it with the Australians and innovations in world cricket?
It's about raising the bar for perfection. To go where no one has gone before. We have had three great captains
who have changed the way the world looks at cricket. Allan Border was the pure, genuine leader, who changed
the way Australia played cricket. Mark Taylor was the generous technician, who always led from the front. And
there is nothing I can say about Steve Waugh. His impeccable record speaks for him. His gamble to put India
in to bat is something no other captain in world cricket would have taken. But Steve has had it easy because
of world class strike bowlers in his team.
Glenn (McGrath) is shoulder to shoulder with Dennis Lillee; Brett Lee is a great
bowler; Gillespie has the pace and control to shock the best in the world. (Colin) Miller is a revelation in world cricket. And, I think that at the rate that he is playing he will go on for another five years.
The batting is equally dynamic. (Adam) Gilchrist is easily the greatest number seven batsman of all time. Justin Langer is tenacious; (Ricky) Ponting is dynamic; and Mark Waugh is easily the classiest batsman in world cricket.
So what is the key to succeed in India?
Patience. Don't fight the system; don't let it get to you. Don't try to question the system, the way things
function. Don't let the heat get to you.
I have always been a working class player. So the hotter it was, the more badly I wanted to perform. I knew that
my talent was not equal to the toenail of the Mark Waughs or the Chappells, but I still wanted to be in the
team. And India was the perfect training camp for me. It taught me a lot.
The key is to enjoy everything that you do. Besides love and passion for the game, one must enjoy his fielding,
even in the heat. You just have to enjoy fielding, because that is what you do most of the time in a game. If you
don't, then, I think, you are not worthy of playing the game."
What is the Aussie motto when on the field?
To win; to win at all costs. I don't believe in enjoying and playing in the right spirit of the game. Don't tell me
that if someone scores a duck in a Test and then gives 100 runs for no wicket he can still enjoy his cricket.
Could you relate your experiences with Sir Don Bradman?
I had the good fortune to have met him on several occasions. He was suffering since a long time. Ever since Lady Bradman passed away a couple of years ago Sir Don was suffering.
You might think I am stupid, but I am happy for him. I'm happy that he is up there in heaven hanging out with
his lady, the lady who was responsible for what he was. She was a great woman, and beautiful too. They say
behind every successful man stands a woman. That is true for Sir Don and me.
Sir Don and I discussed a lot of cricket every time we met. I remember in 1991, I was discussing with him
about how advantageous it was early on when bowlers could drag their feet from the popping crease. The Don
disagreed and said that the easy way out was to use your feet to the bowlers. I insisted that everyone wasn't
as talented as himself to be there at the pitch of the ball waiting to hit it away.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked around to see my team manager tell me to 'button up’.
I sure didn't agree with him on many things because he failed to see that he was more talented and gifted than
anyone else who ever played the game. And yet his humility was the hallmark of a great existence. To have
lived what he lived through was awesome.
But please let's not forget a mention of Lady Bradman, the woman who stood by the greatest batsman of all
time. Her knowledge, her generosity and her beauty were simply awe-inspiring.
Could you review the current series between India and Australia?
I think Australia has an embarrassment of riches. I am sure that Miller will play the next Test, looking at the
turn the wicket has to offer here in India. Had Miller played here (Wankhede) India would have struggled to get
even 150.
India is a talented side, but that's all that they are. I wish them the very best. I saw
Laxman score that 167 in Sydney and I thought it was awesome.
I still believe that Australia will win the Test series 2-0 and wrap up the one-day series 4-1.
And watch out for Mark Waugh tomorrow [Thursday - Day 3 of the Test], he will pick three wickets for Australia.
Interviews
Mail Cricket Editor
