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The Rediff Interview / Gary Kirsten

'I believe that if the technology is available why not use it'

What do you think has Hansie Cronje's contribution been to South Africa?

I think it has been enormous. He has been a successful captain. Very seldom these days do you find a national captain lasting as long as he has. And it is clearly based on his record. He has been a huge success; he is a great team man; he is a great motivator and he gets on with the game and really thinks about his team's performance rather than his own performance. He tries to get the best out of each player. He has the ability to make each player perform at the optimum.

He believes that his team is so good that anyone can lead it and the team will still be as successful? Is it just a show of his modesty?

I think it is a very modest comment made because he is a very fine leader. But I do think the team is developing to a certain extent now that there are a lot of good players, lot of performers. Whereas in the past he brought a team together that wasn't so talented. I think it has changed a little bit now and there are a lot of individuals that can produce the goods.

How much of a contribution do you think Bob Woolmer has made to the side?

He made a good contribution initially because he introduced us to the one-day game where we weren't playing so well. He introduced new ideas and techniques and he was a good attribute to South African cricket. I think he left at the right time. He had five good years, and unfortunately as a coach, your life span is shortlived, and he made use of the time well. The team was successful in the end, so he was a successful coach.

After five years how do you find it now adjusting to the new coach?

Absolutely no problems; Graham Ford has been a brilliant coach in the short time he has been with us. He works really hard; has got his own ideas and pays lot of attention to detail. The guys really enjoy him.

South African cricket has been so sophisticated -- like in the World Cup the earpiece, and then in The Guardian it was mentioned about the digital watch, then the ICC laws. Do you think technology?

Absolutely, you think of the problems world cricket has with umpiring at the moment. I think the more technology can be used the better. And all sports have to go through it and I believe that if the technology is available why not use it. Umpires and players are under a lot of pressure; there are billions of people watching with television now, which never used to be in the past. Every decision is scrutinized in the slowest of slowest motions and umpires are under enormous pressure. If the technology is available why not use it.

But don't you think using the earpiece would make the captain an absolute dummy where the coach will probably be saying everything, like where to place the fielder, which shot to play. Wouldn't it become so monotonous?

Well, I wouldn't suggest a earpiece. I don't think that would make any effect because at the end of the day the captain makes all the decisions. The coach and the captain work as one. So whatever decisions have to be made on the field can be sent in by the 12th man or at the drinks break. I don't think the earpiece is of any value at all except with the batters using it and the coach picks up something in the technique of the batter that he could improve on. And the day it is neutralized and everyone is using it then why not. At the end of the day the game is going to get better and I think the time has come for traditions to be thrown out of the window and let's work on improving the game for people and for the television and for those who pay money to watch the game.

You were the vice-captain and now Shaun Pollock has been given that responsibility, how does it feel?

I am quite happy to stand down as vice-captain. I believe a vice-captain should be someone that's going to take over the mantle piece of a captain and I certainly wasn't in that position. I didn't want to be the captain of the team. It is an enormous job and to follow in Hansie's footsteps is going to be hard work. I just wanted to play and so I was quite happy.

Was it putting pressure on your game?

No, the vice-captaincy wasn't putting pressure on my game.

Who is the toughest bowler you've faced?

It is a difficult question because every bowler can be different and good.

Srinath is a good bowler; Kumble, Shane Warne, Courtney Walsh, Glenn McGrath. I couldn't pick one, they are all good bowlers. India are always favorites at home. They have always been and they will continue to be and they haven't lost a series at home.

What do you think about Allan Donald's record?

I think we all know 292 wickets. Hopefully he will get 300 wickets this series; enormous performer and great fast bowler; one of the ten nominations of the cricketer of the century in South Africa and what more can you say.

He has been an unbelievable performer, his record has shown it. No matter how long he plays he always is going to be a great performer.

Gary what do you do besides cricket?

Well, cricket is a fully professional sport in South Africa as it is in the rest of the world. My job is to play cricket.

Any hobbies?

I play quite a lot of golf. I spend a lot of time with my wife because we don't see each other quite often.

Where do you see yourself from now?

I think I am nearing the end of my international career and certainly would like to play first class cricket for another 4-5 years. But international I don't think it is going to be as long as that. I think the demands of the game and the time away from home doesn't allow one to continue the travelling. It is unfair on your family and I just believe may be I have just a year or two left in me. I would enjoy that. I am really going to take it tour by tour and just be happy to be part of this tour and hopefully perform well and secure a place for the next tour.

Looking back, do you think that you could have achieved much more?

No. I think I am going through a difficult patch over the last year and half, but I think as a batsman you improve with age and hopefully I gained experience to play some good cricket to play for at least another 10-15 Test matches. I have had an enormously good time playing international cricket. I never thought I'd ever play for South Africa; I didn't think I was good enough. And I got in, worked out, was determined to do well, and went from there.

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