Nasser interviews Sachin!

[Chandan]

Sportsmail columnist Nasser Hussain enjoyed — or endured — a number of contests against Sachin Tendulkar over the years, as an England player and captain. India’s Little Master is still going strong after 18 years in international cricket and the pair met in Manchester to discuss his career and life. Tendulkar: I've lived my dream and would not change one thing Last updated at 16:25pm on 1st September 2007 NASSER HUSSAIN: Everyone is presuming this will be your last tour of England. Every time you walk off we all say: 'We won't see him here again.' Is that the case or is there a chance you may be back? SACHIN TENDULKAR: I haven't really thought about that too much. It is in the back of my mind, but I never walk into the changing-rooms and think: 'This will be my last Test match.' Whatever cricketing moments are left for me, I just want to treasure them. Nobody can guarantee what is going to happen in the future, so who knows, I might be back. NH: But when you were walking off at The Oval after the last Test match, didn't you think for a second: 'Wouldn't it be nice to finish on such a high note here in England, with a series victory?' ST: For a second, the thought did come to my mind that this might be the last time. But at this moment, I honestly don't know what is in store for me. NH: How will you know when it is time? ST: My body will give me the signal. I will also know when there is no longer any reason to go out in the middle. The moment when it gets too much to wake up every morning, go to the gym and work on my game, I will stop. But I haven' t reached that time yet when I think: 'I'm just not up for it any more.' I am going to be 35 in April so it is tough. After playing so many one-day matches in my career there is definitely wear and tear, but at this stage I am still managing it OK. NH: What about your performances? For mere mortals like myself, you sense when you are starting to go over the hill because you drop below the level that is acceptable. But when you start slightly fading away, you are still a very fine player capable of scoring a lot of runs. You had a quiet World Cup and some people started saying you should retire before your performances really slide. Do you feel like that or do you plan to play as long as India want you? ST: I will play as long as I am contributing and the team feel the benefit of having me around. If I was becoming a burden, I would not hang around, but I still feel I am capable of playing crucial innings. When that changes, I will know it is time to go. NH: When were you at your absolute peak? ST: Probably from 1995 until about 2003-04, before all the injuries. After that I had to change my grip because of tennis elbow. There were certain shots that I could play and certain shots that I couldn't. NH: Away from the cricket, you don't give much away about your life back in India. What is it like, day-to-day for you? Are the rumours that you can't go out exaggerated? Do you have a life like a normal human being? ST: It is definitely not like the life of a normal person! But the rumours are exaggerated. Even today, there are certain places I can go and walk around at any time of day without being disturbed. My life is pretty simple really — I like to spend as much time as possible with my family. Then there is playing cricket, practising and going to the gym and that's about it. I'm not an out-going person really, I like to spend as much ' time as possible with my very few close friends. NH: What is your major passion outside cricket? ST: I used to do a lot of go-karting and racket sports. I haven't really played much golf, though. I spend a lot of time away from my family, and golf is a time-consuming game. I like to watch tennis and Formula One. NH: Have you been following Lewis Hamilton's progress then? ST: I have and I've been pleasantly surprised by what he has done. I had heard about him, but I didn't expect him to do as well as he has done. NH: You have always been into your cars, haven't you? You own a Ferrari don't you? ST: Yes, I have a Ferrari. Cars and motor-racing have always been a real passion of mine. NH: Cricket has obviously given you a lot — money and the pleasure of playing for India. But you have also sacrificed a lot in the process, such as not being able to go out much. Would you say it has been a fair swap? ST: I love the sport and when you love something you are willing to go to any extent to make sure you do the right things. You do have to sacrifice a lot, but I just love cricket so much. It was always the ultimate for me as a child growing up. My only dream was to play for my country. Tennis was the other sport I really loved, because I was a huge John McEnroe fan. As a child I would wear a head band and sweat bands and carry a tennis racket around with me everywhere. It was only in 1983, when India won the World Cup, that everything changed and cricket became my only ambition. NH: But in terms of the sacrifices you have made since then, if you could rewind and do it all again, would you do anything differently? ST: No. Absolutely nothing. There used to be a temptation to go out in the evening, do other things and miss practice sessions. But whenever I did that my coach would come and pick me up and take me to the ground. He would make me pad up and bat for hours. NH: Since then, you have succeeded at every different level of the game, which must have eased the pressure on you. But what about the pressure of carrying the hopes of so many people? A lot of people in India are very hard up, so how do you handle the fact that the one thing which might brighten up their day is a Sachin Tendulkar hundred? ST: To be honest, I got used to it in my younger days. Even in school matches I was a known name, because there used to be huge write-ups in the papers about me, saying I would soon be playing for my country. People starting taking notice of me. I was young, but it was a blessing in disguise. NH: So even when you make a run of low scores, you don't feel that burden of public expectation? ST: Of course, that is in the background. But if I haven't scored many runs, I haven't lived up to my own expectations, rather than anyone else's. I daren't worry too much about what the people think. All I can do is judge how I feel and how important my innings was to the team. I only try to live up to my expectations and the team's expectations and I don't worry about what is being said about me in the media, which allows me to keep my mind clear. NH: What about life after cricket — do you have any plans yet? ST: I haven't given it much thought. To even imagine life without cricket is very tough, because for about 60 per cent of my life, I've been playing cricket for India. The first thing I would do is spend time with my family, which I have not been able to do as much as I want. Apart from that, one thing is for sure, I won't be going to gyms! Maybe I will take up golf. NH: I have to ask about England (captained by Hussain) against India in Bangalore (in 2001) with Ashley Giles bowling over the wicket, trying to stop you scoring, ' and Andrew Flintoff bowling round the wicket. Were you just thinking: 'This isn't cricket?' ST: I was prepared for it. In the first Test match I scored 88, in the second Test I made a hundred and in the third one I got out for 90, so where was the problem? I just thought to myself: 'If you are going to test my patience, I will test yours, too.' NH: Who do you think won then? ST: Well, I scored almost 300 runs ... you tell me! NH: I think I've lost that argument! NH: What about the English bowlers in this one-day series, especially James Anderson and Stuart Broad? ST: They have both bowled good, disciplined lines. Anderson is the in-form bowler and he has done very well. I played against him at the World Cup in 2003 and then back in India and he was a different bowler then. But it takes time for a bowler to develop. Today's Anderson might be tomorrow's Glenn McGrath — you've just got to wait and see.

[Chandan]

Expected Nasser to ask something new, novel so that few facts gets revealed which we do not know as yet. Unfortunately, he disappoints and this interview is nothing new, apart from James Anderson comment.

[zubinpepsi]

Expected Nasser to ask something new' date=' novel so that few facts gets revealed which we do not know as yet. Unfortunately, he disappoints and this interview is nothing new, apart from James Anderson comment.[/quote'] what exactly u wanted to know?

[Anakin]

Good interview

[observer1]

what kinda shoes are those? on further reflection: hussain: losing hair: wears a cap tendulkar: wears boots with heels?/

[Chandan]

what exactly u wanted to know?

Many things: his views about the young players all round the world, who does he rate as future super-stars, problems while facing such a busy schedule, how is he thinking of managing himself in such a cramped schedule, which English tour was his sternest test, which captain does he rate as best (the one he has played with or against) and so on.

[zubinpepsi]

Many things: his views about the young players all round the world' date=' who does [b']he rate as future super-stars, problems while facing such a busy schedule, how is he thinking of managing himself in such a cramped schedule, which English tour was his sternest test, which captain does he rate as best (the one he has played with or against) and so on.

these type of qns whos best and whos not will come out later after the retirement.. i think u wont get his true answers now.. cuz hes playing still.. once hes retired he will b more fres to share his experiences.. prolly planning to put it as a best seller book..

[Ram]

I really hate such sham sessions masqueraded as interviews. I cant possibly list ONE new thing that i learnt in it. Sachin is repetitive/boring/unexcitable. He and Dravid are vying for the top prize of the Mr.Obvious competition

[Chandan]

these type of qns whos best and whos not will come out later after the retirement.. i think u wont get his true answers now.. cuz hes playing still.. once hes retired he will b more fres to share his experiences.. prolly planning to put it as a best seller book..

Don't think so. Sachin is not Warne.:D

[zubinpepsi]

I really hate such sham sessions masqueraded as interviews. I cant possibly list ONE new thing that i learnt in it. Sachin is repetitive/boring/unexcitable. He and Dravid are vying for the top prize of the Mr.Obvious competition

comeon.. what do u expect to him to say.. u know what happnd when he made his opinion abt greg... u know what happnd when he said hes suprised when dravid declared at 194.. hes not a movie maker or script writer ... hes job is to play cricket.. let him play...

[Ram]

comeon.. what do u expect to tell him.. u know what happnd when he made his opinion abt greg... u know what happnd when he said hes suprised when dravid declared at 194.. hes not a movie maker or script writer ... hes job is to play cricket.. let him play...

I know.I am not saying he should be more open about his views. Just that - I rarely read player interviews. They are truly boring.

[Ram]

what kinda shoes are those? on further reflection: hussain: losing hair: wears a cap tendulkar: wears boots with heels?/

Hussain looks very english , for someone born in India. Sachin is trying to hide his receding hairline with customized hairstyle.

[gator]

Hussain looks very english , for someone born in India. Sachin is trying to hide his receding hairline with customized hairstyle.

hussain's mom is white, i heard...

[Rajiv]

I really hate such sham sessions masqueraded as interviews. I cant possibly list ONE new thing that i learnt in it. Sachin is repetitive/boring/unexcitable. He and Dravid are vying for the top prize of the Mr.Obvious competition

..thats why he is what he is now. But I hear ya, we need some spice; I mean a man with so much fame and $$ can't be so simple right, there has to be a breaking point. I am sure he does; but it's his own business and he's doing a damn good job of keeping it quiet We need to hear his bat for now, once he retires; I bet sachin will talk and that stuff will be great

[Anakin]

R bhai I doubt it. He's too decent to talk publicly about other people's fault.

[Mandrake]

For me this was the best part of the interview:haha: NH: Who do you think won then? ST: Well, I scored almost 300 runs ... you tell me! NH: I think I've lost that argument!

[Chandan]

Sachin is repetitive/boring/unexcitable. He and Dravid are vying for the top prize of the Mr.Obvious competition

Don't you think the questions are repetitive as well?? Why on earth could Nasser not ask him about few new things?

[Cricketics]

when u r in onez country then u have to be prepared to answer such questions.. these englishmens would ask most questions related to england only.... don't expect them to ask "did u enjoy facing mcgrath" "which aussie batsman u enjoy watching the most" they won't ask such stuff.. what u really wanted to hear chandan as u seem to be pretty disappointed by this interview?? u wanted nasser to ask, what is sachinz fav fruit, dish etc??

[Chandan]

when u r in onez country then u have to be prepared to answer such questions.. these englishmens would ask most questions related to england only.... don't expect them to ask "did u enjoy facing mcgrath" "which aussie batsman u enjoy watching the most" they won't ask such stuff.. what u really wanted to hear chandan as u seem to be pretty disappointed by this interview?? u wanted nasser to ask, what is sachinz fav fruit, dish etc??

Nasser could have asked more about this series (we'd have loved it too), Pietersen, Vaughan,younger bowlers, his older experiences, what was the difference this time around, scoring no centuries as yet in any international match on this tour as yet and so on.

[King]

Today's star is tomorrow's legend and tomorrow's legend is a forgotten legend in few years or decades. I think Sachin will get his privacy back about 5-10 years after his retirement. Stardom is such that it fades quicker than it takes to establish it. I've seen people don't even bother throwing a second look at the likes of Gavaskar, Richard Hadlee and others while the current stars are around. Worse is when the past stars don't appear on TV much they are completely forgotten. Sachin will get his privacy back in few years considering he is media shy and most definitely will not be appearing much on TV.