Kumar Sangakkara has always adapted his game over the years, and at present, each and every part of him is conditioned towards run-making

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle 09-Aug-2014Talent is a beguiling concept. Almost anyone feels they can spot it, given enough knowledge. Sometimes, those marked out for special ability go on to achieve extraordinary things.Blaise Pascal had a theorem to his name by 16, and would become a mathematical giant. Rabindranath Tagore wrote his first poem at eight, then had his first major collection published at 17. Current chess world No.1 Magnus Carlsen was a grandmaster at 13.But for every Tagore and Pascal, there are plenty of young talents who have lost their way, or misused their gifts. Ted Kazynski was accepted into Harvard at 16, but is now more famous for killing three people and injuring 23 others as the “unabomber”. The music and film industries are awash with prodigies gone awry. Fans of almost every sport know this archetype: the young star that comes into the top team on a cloud of hype, then frustrates repeatedly until he is cut off, often forever.At 37, Kumar Sangakkara sits eye-to-eye with the modern greats of the game•AFPKumar Sangakkara has seen talent in all shapes and sizes in his cricket career. He was the toast of Trinity College in the mid-nineties, but there were plenty more famous schoolboy names. Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Smaraweera are two that converted their perceived ability into international success. Avishka Gunawardene was famed for his big hitting, but shone only briefly the top level. Others like the opener Pradeep Hewage could not break free of the first-class grind.Sangakkara was not among those publicly anointed as a future Test star at 15, but at 37, he has surpassed every Test batsman Sri Lanka has produced, and sits eye-to-eye with the modern greats of the game. Although he may not have naturally had the eye of a Sachin Tendulkar, or the quick feet and hands of Brian Lara, it might be a mistake to claim he has less ability.Few cricketers have squeezed so many runs out of such limited talent for hitting a cricket ball, but Sangakkara has innate talent in spades, in other respects. His great success has been to direct that ability so fluently towards his sport. Everything Sangakkara does, from his businesses, to his speeches, to every cover-drive and sweep he gets to the fence, is foremost a triumph of the mind.If this is a revision of how the word “talent” is used, perhaps it is an overdue change. Cricket is among the most cerebral sports, testing not only strategy and mental agility, but in Test cricket, also mental endurance. Add to that the hours of work that must go in, in between matches; the quest for sustained excellence and continued improvement is a function of the mind as well.And it is here, that Sangakkara sets himself completely apart. There is no better “run machine” in cricket at the moment, and that is exactly how he views his game: as a machine with many parts, both mental and physical, which lock and grind together for the purpose of absorbing pressure and making runs.There are mechanics in the form of coaches and his own father, who knows the man and his technique inside out, but Sangakkara himself is the chief engineer of his success. He decides on the parts of his cricket that need improving, so he dismantles one section, without detriment to the whole, and makes fresh additions, like a CPU continually incorporating the most advanced chipsets.It is the reason he is one of the most heavily transformed players since youth. To watch a Sangakkara from the early 2000s is to watch almost a different batsman, with a looser style, and a perceptibly worse understanding of the game.Now, when Sangakkara comes to the middle to play cricket, he has already played a game of chess in his head. “I just look at the ball, I look at the bowler, I look at the situation of the game and think, “Ok, this is what I’m going to do, this is how I’m going to play,” he said of his mental process, after Saturday’s double-ton.

His great success has been to direct that ability so fluently towards his sport. Everything Sangakkara does, from his businesses, to his speeches, to every cover-drive and sweep he gets to the fence, is foremost a triumph of the mind

After his worst series against Pakistan, where he averaged 33.20 in three Tests early this year, Sangakkara put a magnifying glass to his cricket and worked out what was wrong.He bounced back emphatically by hitting more than 400 runs in a single match against Bangladesh, in February, and had this to say afterwards: “I have been taking the wrong option at times and just losing concentration at an important time. It was just a case of getting that in mind, leaving really well, knowing where my off stump is, and then pacing my innings really well. Rather than being too tense and trying to concentrate all the time, I tried to switch on and off at the right time, and keep my mind fresh to score runs. That was really the difference for me.”Jayawardene’s instinctive style allows him to play all sorts of innings, each different, memorable and unique, but so many of Sangakkara’s top innings have been just like the last big one. After more than a decade of cricket at the top level, he has perfected an all-weather base for his game, in which every molecule is geared toward run-making. There are minor tweaks to the technique, depending on the pitch and the opposition. The body kit might be a different from series to series, but the chassis and the engine remain the same.That he averages over 70 as a specialist batsman – a role he has now filled in 79 Tests – is now well known, but since 2013, his form has been monstrous. He averages 87.66 over 22 innings in Tests; and 55.61 with a strike rate of 91.66 from 38 ODIs. Typically, the reason for the improvement is a shift in the mind.”Sometimes you drive yourself too hard and load yourself up with expectations,” he said. “I’ve just been a lot freer recently. Once I thought taking responsibility for the side is well and good, but at the end of the day the way you try and achieve the runs that you need to score is by being a lot freer and by expressing yourself a bit more.”That’s true in one-day cricket, and in Test cricket – whichever form of the game you play. I’ve been a lot more relaxed. I’ve made a few technical changes as well as I’ve gone along, and it’s just worked. Acceptance of the fact that you’re fallible, and you’re allowed to make mistakes at any time of your career, has freed me up a bit.”Few cricketers have such cutting insight into their own cricket. Fewer still can endure the relentlessness of their own training. Sangakkara hits more balls than any batsman in his team, runs as many kilometres as anyone else, and yet, clears his thoughts completely when the ball leaves the bowler’s hand.Sangakkara is often thought of as wearing two hats; an intellectual, despite being an exceptional sportsman. Really though, the first follows the second. Sangakkara wins battles with bowlers because he has already beaten them in the mind. That, for him, has been much more of a talent than sharp eyes and brisk reflexes.

Zimbabwe were in danger of unravelling against spin once again, but Hamilton Masakadza proved immovable in Khulna

Devashish Fuloria in Khulna05-Nov-2014When Hamilton Masakadza stood at the crease against the spinners, there were times when the wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim was completely eclipsed. Jubair Hossain could have stood there too and it would have still been impossible to spot the two Bangladesh players behind Masakadza’s broad frame. He has that kind of physical presence in the middle. Watching him tap his bat on the crease can be daunting for a bowler because Masakadza seems like a giant rock. Immovable.A large frame without lots of runs means little, though, and Masakadza’s numbers in Test cricket are ordinary enough that you won’t be surprised if teams do not make special plans to bowl at him. Bowl in the ‘right areas’, as they say, and wait for the batsman to make a mistake. Masakadza probably falls into that category, as do most Zimbabwe players.But ask any Zimbabwean the value of those 1528 runs and 28 Tests worth of experience, and they might say those figures are gold. Over the past decade, Zimbabwe have seen a once thriving cricket culture collapse due to reasons ranging from questionable administrative policies to talent drain. Masakadza is one of few who have stayed firm through the turmoil. A survivor. At the age of 31, he is also the team’s veteran and their leading Test run-scorer, among the current crop.Masakadza’s fighting spirit has perhaps rubbed off on his team-mates because six innings into this series, one thing Zimbabwe have not done is give up. They have been obdurate, like they were against Pakistan last year, or against Australia a couple of months ago. Playing with limited ability, Zimbabwe have done their best to stay in line and not be extravagant. Their bowlers restricted the damage in Khulna by limiting Bangladesh to 433 and on the third day their batsmen, led by Masakadza, put up a fight.In the lead-up to the second Test, while Zimbabwe were trying novel methods to simulate spinning conditions, Masakadza had said he was not yet ready to give up on the preparation he had made ahead of the series. Those methods probably included playing spin late and with soft hands, pushing in the ‘v’ as much as possible, using power while driving only when the ball was a half-volley or a long-hop, conserving energy through the day by walking easy singles and using a reverse-sweep to reach 150. Maybe the last one was not part of the original plan, but he religiously stuck to everything else.Masakadza was lucky on the third morning. He was dropped twice in consecutive overs but that twitchy-ness only made him more bloody-minded. He would defend a ball against the seamers, walk slowly towards square leg, trudge back, and then plant himself on the crease. At the non-striker’s end, he was not light-footed like the young batsmen of this age, up on their marks before a shot is hit. He would stand calmly till a run was there to be taken. Calmly he passed his milestones, collecting his first Test century outside Zimbabwe, not feeling the need to change his game.It has only been three years since Zimbabwe’s return to the Test fold and Masakadza has highlighted the role of the seniors in not only taking their games forward but also helping the new generation of cricketers adapt to international cricket. Unlike in Mirpur, Masakadza stuck around in Khulna, first with debutant Brian Chari during a 67-run stand, then with Regis Chakabva in an unbeaten partnership of 142.”It’s a wonderful innings and it is even more special to me to be [with] him, to be where he is now and me batting alongside him,” Chakabva said after the day’s play. “We were joking about it, how it has taken so much time to come but it was magnificent to see him play.”Masakadza defended the last over of the day and turned immediately to make his way towards the dressing room. After a few steps, he stopped and waited for Chakabva to join him. The younger partner embraced the senior for a job well done. Zimbabwe had scored 278 runs in the day and were just 102 behind the hosts. Chakabva is not as big as Masakadza either and would have felt relaxed beside those broad shoulders.

Stats highlights from the first day of the first Test between Australia and India at Adelaide

Bishen Jeswant09-Dec-2014959 Runs scored by Warner in 2014, the most by any opener. Sri Lanka’s Kaushal Silva is next with 769 runs.23 Number of consecutive Tests at Adelaide where the captain winning the toss has chosen to bat first. The last captain who chose to bowl was Mohammad Azharuddin, in 1992. India lost that Test by a close margin of 38 runs.24 Number of years since an Indian legspinner made his Test debut outside the subcontinent. Prior to Karn Sharma making his debut in this Test, Anil Kumble had debuted against England at Old Trafford in 1990.145 Runs scored by Warner in Australia’s first innings, his fifth century in his last ten Test innings. He also has three fifties in this period. His 145 is also the third highest score by an Australian opener at Adelaide in the last 30 years.10 Number of Test hundreds for Warner. He got to this mark in 33 Tests, the fourth fastest for an Australian batsman after Don Bradman, Arthur Morris and Neil Harvey.50.4 Warner’s batting average as an opener. His average touched the 50 mark when he was batting on 122, during his innings of 145. He is only the fifth Australian opener to score 2000-plus runs at an average of 50 or more.103 Michael Clarke’s batting average at Adelaide. He was retired hurt for 60 in Australia’s first innings. Clarke is the only batsmen to score more than 1000 runs and average more than 100 in Adelaide. Among batsmen who have scored more than 500 runs, Don Bradman (107.8) and Lindsay Hassett (128.3) also have 100-plus averages.135 Warner’s strike rate against Varun Aaron and Mohammad Shami. He scored 77 runs off 57 balls against them. However, he only scored 16 runs off 41 balls against Ishant Sharma, at a strike rate of 39.5 Number of deliveries that the Indian pacers bowled from over the wicket to Warner during the first session. Bowling from round the wicket, the pacers conceded 58 runs off 58 balls to Warner, yet stuck to the same strategy. Prior to this Test Warner averaged 57.8 against pace bowlers bowling round the wicket, while he averaged 52.8 against those bowling over the stumps.35 Runs that Warner scored off his first 17 balls. He only scored seven runs off his next 17 balls. He eventually finished his innings at a strike rate of 89, his fourth highest strike rate for a 100-plus score.2 Number of times that Clarke has been retired hurt in his career. No batsmen has been retired hurt, and not returned to bat in that innings, more often in the last ten years. Overall, the batsmen to be retired hurt most often in their careers are Rahul Dravid, Nasser Hussain and Dilip Vengsarkar, three times each.86.9 Warner’s mean strike rate in Tests when he scores a century. Among batsmen who have played at least ten innings, this is the second highest strike rate. Just above him on the list is Adam Gilchrist (96.6) and just below is Virender Sehwag (83.5).50 The opening partnership between Chris Rogers and David Warner. This is fifth 50-plus opening stand for Australia in 2014. The only team to have posted more such partnerships is West Indies, with six.60 Runs scored by Australia in the first ten overs of their innings. Since 2001, this is the tenth instance of Australia scoring at a run rate of six runs or more during the first ten overs of their innings, three of those against India.

Brisbane locals and tourists talk about the Queensland capital’s weather, restaurants, botanical gardens and river

28-Jan-20152:57

‘Vibrant and chilled out’

The explorer has taught sportsmen that what you go through alone is never as important as what you have committed to doing for others

Firdose Moonda20-Mar-2015Imagine how you would feel if you were stumbling sightless through a jungle after a snake-bite or if you watched a fellow climber die on your way to the summit or if you were stalked by a polar bear while circumnavigating the Arctic Circle in the ever-present darkness of winter. Terrified? Traumatised? At the very least trepidation for whether you should go on, surely? Not Mike Horn.He completed his trip down the Amazon river despite temporary blindness. When he lost his friend, he found the top of the mountain. And he shrugged off the polar bear until it found something else to eat. When Horn starts something, he finishes it and that’s what he wants the South African team to buy into as they enter the final phase of the World Cup.”It’s very important for them to understand that when I play out in nature, as an example, I don’t really lose a match and there’s no second match. I lose a life. So there’s a different commitment to what I do,” Horn told South African broadcaster SABC news. “That weakness that we have as humans, we cannot show that weakness.”So far, South Africa have understood. Those words were repeated almost verbatim by AB de Villiers after their quarter-final win over Sri Lanka, when they exerted the kind of authority Horn had demanded. “We have to invade the opposition’s space, we have to dominate, we have to be so present around them that wherever they turn or wherever they look, they must see a Protea,” Horn said. “And then we can play our own game, and we keep on applying that pressure slowly and surely onto them. Then they are going to crack.”That philosophy is fundamentally different to the South African approach, especially in knockout matches. They have seen their role as pressure absorbers, not pressure transmitters, and it has been their undoing.A change in mindset was required and that is what Horn has been working on since he first met the side in 2011. Then, they were embarking on a three-Test tour to England. Victory would give them the Test mace. “When the Proteas came to Switzerland, Gary Kirsten gave me a job to do. He said, ‘Mike, you’ve got to make a team out of these individuals.’ I said, ‘I know the perfect exercise – let’s take them up the mountain.'”We roped them up together and we climbed a peak that’s not often climbed, and as the players went higher and higher and they got more tired and more engaged and it became colder and more difficult, the players slowly but surely got closer to each other,” Horn said. “They started helping the weak ones. They started looking after each other, and that creates a great team environment.”

We have to be so present around them that wherever they turn or wherever they look, they must see a ProteaMike Horn

Not only did South Africa win the mace, they have have kept it with them, barring a few months last year, despite major differences in personnel – a new coach, a new captain and a new senior core. That smooth transition was possible because of the strength of the collective, which Horn has impressed on all the teams he has worked with.From India, to the Kolkata Knights Riders and the German Football team, Horn has taught sportsmen that what you go through alone is never as important as what you have committed to doing for others.”Once committed, you have to finish the job at any cost. That was your word, your commitment. It was a message that the players took to heart,” Joy Bhattacharya, team director of Knight Riders, wrote on Quartz India. “The beauty of Mike’s tales was that they transcended cultures and educational backgrounds.”Morne Morkel, who plays for Knight Riders and grew particularly close to Horn, is a perfect example of how the message has got through. AB de Villiers has called him one of the “captains of the bowling,” who “talks with good confidence.”Morkel bowls that way too. His job is not to take his foot off the gas after the initial waves of attack. In so doing, he finished as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in 2014 and is their leading paceman at the World Cup. Morkel is bowling quicker and more aggressively than he ever has. His use of the bouncer has also been exceptional. “He walks the talk,” de Villiers said. “And he believes he can actually play a major role in teams winning Cups.”That is the exact feeling Horn is trying to foster in every member of South Africa’s squad. “The World Cup cannot be won with individuals. It can be won with one team. And for me, being back with the Proteas now, I can see that team. That team has been created and they’re here for one reason, and that is to win the World Cup.”So does that mean Horn thinks South Africa will leave with the trophy they came for? “I don’t think the question is can they. I think it’s when will they win a World Cup. Cricket is a game, and in games we do have luck and we don’t have luck. I think this team has the individuals and they’ve done the hard yards. They’ve prepared themselves very well and now it’s going to be the roll of the dice. If there is ever a team that can win the World Cup it’s this team that we have now. I’ll back them all the way.”

A look at what Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies need to do to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals from Group B

Shiva Jayaraman07-Mar-20153:20

Impact of Ireland’s win on Group B

While Pakistan’s win against South Africa has given them a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals without getting into the complications of net run-rate, Zimbabwe’s loss to Ireland has made them the second team from Group B to be knocked out of this World Cup after UAE.With a win against West Indies, India have ensured a place in the last eight. They are likely to end up topping the group should they win at least one of their remaining two games – against Ireland and Zimbabwe. South Africa’s loss to Pakistan hasn’t done any real damage to their chances of qualifying, as they still have a game against UAE left. Their superior NRR will ensure that they qualify as the second team from Group B in the event that Ireland lose at least one of their two remaining games. This leaves three teams – Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies – fighting for the remaining two spots in the last eight.Pakistan – Pakistan have one match left against Ireland. A win in this game will send them through to the quarter-finals. A loss though, will bring NRR into play. Should it come to that for Pakistan, they will be fighting for a berth in the quarter-finals based on NRR with West Indies, assuming the likely event of West Indies beating UAE in their final game.Ireland – Ireland have six points and two matches still to go – against India and Pakistan. They have to get a point from one of those games to sail through to the knockouts. Though Ireland managed to add two important points to their account with their win over Zimbabwe, the narrow margin means that they haven’t improved upon their negative NRR. As it stands, Ireland have the worst NRR (-0.820) out of the three teams in contention. Losses in both these games will, in all likelihood, send them out of the World Cup because of their inferior NRR, given the likelihood of West Indies beating UAE.West Indies – West Indies are the only team out of the three in contention to be completely dependent on other results to qualify. They will have to beat UAE to begin with and preferably by a huge margin. If Ireland beat India, that will leave only one spot to fight for. If Pakistan also lose to Ireland, then it will come down to NRR between West Indies and Pakistan. A Pakistan win in that game will knock West Indies out. If Ireland lose both their remaining games, West Indies will in all likelihood qualify ahead of Ireland on account of their superior NRR.If the game between India and Ireland is washed out or tied, then Ireland will advance to the quarter-finals. Pakistan will then need an outright win against Ireland or a NRR healthy enough to pip West Indies. If any of the last two games in Group B – Pakistan v Ireland or West Indies v UAE – is washed out or tied then it will be curtains for West Indies.

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jun-2015Along with Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz briskly put on 139 runs for the sixth wicket•Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty ImagesSarfraz, however, was removed by Dhammika Prasad for 96 off 86 balls, after taking Pakistan close to the 250-mark•Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty ImagesShafiq continued to bat in solid fashion and remained unbeaten on 64 when Pakistan went to lunch on 259 for 6, trailing by 41 runs•Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty ImagesDilruwan Perera bowled Wahab Riaz, who put on 38 runs with Shafiq, in the eighth over after lunch. Nuwan Pradeep then removed Yasir Shah, who added 29 runs in the company of Shafiq•Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty ImagesShafiq, however, remained unruffled, and brought up his seventh Test century to help Pakistan take the lead•Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty ImagesShafiq was provided excellent support by Zulfiqar Babar, who scored 56 off 60 balls, his maiden Test fifty. By the time Shafiq was the last man out for 131, Pakistan finished with 417 and accumulated a handy lead of 117 runs•Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty ImagesPakistan’s bowlers started off aggressively and Wahab Riaz was rewarded with the wicket of Kaushal Silva inside nine overs•Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty ImagesKumar Sangakkara also fell towards the end of the day, leaving Dimuth Karunaratne and nightwatchman Dilruwan Perera in the crease as Sri Lanka entered the final day precariously placed at 63 for 2, still trailing by 54 runs•Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images

From growing up in a sporting family to cracking the code to a finisher’s game, James Faulkner explains his journey in international cricket so far

Interview by Arun Venugopal16-May-20158:28

‘Want to play as much as I can for Australia’ – Faulkner

Looking back at how your career has shaped in the last two or three years, is there a sense of disbelief?I don’t know about disbelief. I suppose time has really flown over the last two years [playing] in so many different tournaments, whether it’s the IPL or the Big Bash, ODI cricket, Champions Trophy couple of years ago. The list goes on and you just lose track of how much cricket is really being played.I feel very lucky to be involved in a lot of these tournaments and be able to contribute. So I am very happy to be involved whether it’s with Australia or Rajasthan [Royals], and now obviously county cricket [with Lancashire] where I am going to. I love playing the game and try to give 100 percent no matter who I am playing for.What are the changes you see in yourself both as a cricketer and as a person over the last few years?I have probably been a bit more patient, especially when it comes to my batting. I was initially coming out at the end with 10-12 balls left and you have to really try and hit the ball over the fence. So I give myself a chance. There is no point in me going and hitting one straight up and putting more pressure on the next players.Probably, [I] know how to play my role better [now]. I know there’s going to be times when things aren’t going great for you, and there’s going to be times when you look like a superstar. That’s just the nature of the game. The way I sort of see it is if you stay relaxed and back your preparations, back your game, more times than not you are going to come on top. That’s probably the biggest thing I have learnt: to be patient and to not worry about what other people are saying, because at the end of the day they are not the ones having to deal with your role.’Everyone was obviously so excited about what had occurred. You dream about winning the World Cup’ – James Faulkner•ICCAlmost every cricketer talks about living in the present. How do you manage to do that? Do you meditate or try other relaxation exercises?I don’t meditate or do anything like that. For me it’s about switching off and forgetting about what happened. If you take it personally if you don’t bowl the ball you wanted or if you get out playing a bad shot, [it doesn’t help]. [I] definitely learn from it and assess it straightaway but don’t keep thinking about it. It’s only going to affect your game and there are different times when things haven’t gone to plan and people keep bringing them up. But that’s for them to harp on. For me it’s about trying to stay in the present and worry about the next game.What are the specific areas you work on as a finisher?I just give myself some time and a chance to face 15-16 balls, and I can get my first, second boundary. Like any other batsman, it’s just about being patient, giving myself a chance, still trying to hit the bad ball but that’s pretty much it.”I know there’s going to be times when things aren’t going great for you, and there’s going to be times when you look like a superstar. That’s just the nature of the game”•Cricket AustraliaWith so many Australians in the Rajasthan Royals set up, have you guys attempted to replicate the ‘Australian way’ of playing the game?I don’t know if we try and replicate it. I think naturally that’s just how we [Royals] play whether you are from Australia, South Africa. Every single player plays differently and they have grown up playing cricket differently. But I can tell you one thing: everyone is still playing the game exactly the same way. They are still very competitive and try and do well for the team.How big was the influence of your father, Peter – a former first-class cricketer himself – in your becoming a cricketer? Was there pressure on you to make it big?Naturally when your parents play sport, whether it’s cricket, football, soccer, tennis, whatever it is, you grow up around balls and being active, so definitely [it] had an influence on my sporting career.I don’t know if he was trying to put any pressure, but I definitely didn’t feel any pressure when it came to playing cricket. [It] was cricket and football probably for me but at the end of the day I love cricket so much, it ended up just working out.With your fame and riches how do you ensure your mates don’t treat you differently now?Probably that’s the hardest thing when it comes to being an elite sportsman or a professional sportsman. You spend so much time away from home it’s hard to keep those relationships going with your friends. So I try and speak to my family as often as I can, my mom, my dad, probably don’t speak to my sisters as much as what I should do.Look, your friends are your friends and your family is your family. No matter what happens they will always be there to support you. I am lucky and very fortunate that all my friends treat me the same. They still try and stir me up. That’s good. Definitely switches you off away from cricket, and I enjoy the time when I get it.With so much cricket being played, are there times when you fall out of love with the game?The love for the game just burns inside you. No doubt every player goes through patches when they are probably not enjoying it as much as what they could. Purely because of the weather, the travel. Probably the travel is the hardest thing, being away from home, out of your own bed, not the same sort of cafes and environment to be around. That’s one of the big challenges of being a sportsman. Yes, definitely something you have to monitor.What are your things you pursue in life with as much interest or more as cricket?(thinks for a few seconds) That’s a very good question. I don’t read books. I am not a big reader. I follow the AFL, the football in Australia, I still follow the major golf tournaments, but yeah AFL is the pick for me.James Faulkner likes talking about his game, and looks to Steven Smith and Shane Watson at Rajasthan Royals•BCCIHas the Phillip Hughes tragedy changed the way you look at the risks involved in cricket? Has it changed the way your family and friends look at it?You have to ask family and friends if I look at it any differently. The way I see the game, definitely the incident put a lot [of things] in perspective. We do get caught up, every single player gets caught up and emotional about whether they have done well or whether they haven’t.[But] it’s purely a game. There’s more things probably to life. I have sort of found out the journey after the incident. So, probably enjoy your time with your mates because it’s a unique job that we’ve got. We are not in an office. We get to play something through our lives. That’s the thing that’s hit home the most, I reckon.Are you big on cricketing history?I know most of the cricketing events but I don’t go back and read that much on cricket. I think purely because your whole life is around cricket when it comes to training, playing and travelling. I just like to get away. But definitely if you ask me something, there would be a fair chance I know it.Australians seem to have glorified sledging over the years. What’s your stand on the matter?I get asked this question all the time. Like I have said all along, I don’t think anyone goes out on the ground to personally sledge someone or attack someone. Just the way the game is played, the competitive nature it’s played [with] around the world, it happens and there’s going to be times when you are going to step over the line, but no one goes out intentionally to step over the line. Everyone’s trying to play it in good spirit and I think getting sledged is a good thing. That means you are obviously performing well and people are trying to get under your skin.Who is your go-to man as far as cricketing advice is concerned?Depends what it is. For me, it’s more about talking, communicating with other members [of the team] when you are away. I think I learn the most when you are just sitting down having coffee or having lunch with other players. When they are doing well and when they aren’t doing well, I think talking about it is probably the best way to go about it.I have got numerous players that I talk to about the game whether it’s here in Rajasthan with Steven Smith and Watto [Shane Watson], I spend a lot of time with him as well or at Australia, [where] it’s pretty much with anyone who is around. We love talking about it and that’s how you learn about your own game, learn about the team.What were the celebrations like on the night you won the World Cup? What did Michael Clarke have to say to you guys?Everyone was obviously so excited about what had occurred. You dream about winning the World Cup. I think just like any other country when they win a World Cup the celebrations were a lot of fun and it was a great time to share with everyone involved whether you are a player or support staff. Everyone contributed not only this year but the four years leading up to it. It was a great time.How do you see your career evolve from here?I just want to play as many games for my country as I can. Hopefully, I have got a fair bit of cricket left. I have just turned 25, so hopefully I have got some years to come. Just try to win as many tournaments as we can as a team.