When Harbhajan made his debut for India – being the new kid on the block so to speak – he sought his friend Thyagarajan “to hang out”, and to share his early experiences. Harbhajan too was amazed at just how down to earth his teammates were, and was particularly impressed with Tendulkar who told him that he had all the makings of a great career for India.
Such experiences could not but left an indelible print on the mind of the young Thyagarajan. And one intuitively senses that it was that experience that has nurtured within him an unquenchable thirst for cricket; an unerring commitment to the virtues of the gentleman’s game; and the mental fortitude to perform in pressure-cooker situations.
I spoke with Thyagarajan about his career; and USA Cricket. This is what he had to say:
How significant was it to win the inaugural Americas T/20 Championship in Bermuda?
Very significant, Canada is our archrivals. Leading up to the game there was some banter between the two teams. Canada see us as a lower division team – division 1 versus division 4. Physically and mentally their players are a notch better. But they have had the benefit of playing in a higher division for a longer time.
You got 150 odd in the opening game. Tell me about that knock.
[A week earlier] in Florida against Jamaica, I thought I was batting really well but then I threw my wicket away on a loose shot. This time I vowed to make amends. When I came to the crease… I think it was something like 90 for 4. [Orlando] Baker and I always bat well together. This time I told him to hold one end…that I wanted to go after them. I was feeling it…everything was coming off the middle of the bat.
You have featured in several crucial partnerships in the last few years. What are the ones that stand out?
The game against Jersey a few months ago in Nepal; when I came to the crease we were 50 for 5. It was a very crucial game for us …to keep our qualification hopes alive. When Marshall and I met at the crease, it seemed like a repeat of 2008. It was Jersey that denied us back then when Marshall and I almost pulled it off. That game was still on my mind…and we both said, ‘let’s don’t do it again’.
There is too the partnership with Orlando Baker against Canada in 2008 when we won the Americas Cup. At one stage we were 60 for 6, and memories of 2006 [when USA were bowled out by Canada for 100] started coming back. But we put on 139…I was unbeaten on 84.
I also enjoy batting with Sushil [Nadkarni], and in that must-win game against Nepal [earlier this year] we shared a match-winning partnership. After the lost to Singapore in the previous game, just beating Nepal would not have been enough to qualify. We also needed to win with a big net run rate. When I joined Sushil at the crease we needed 48 to win, but we had to get there in about 38 balls. [At left - Thyagarajan and Nadkarni celebrate the victory over Nepal]
Is the team ready for Italy?
Coming from Bermuda, I would have to say yes. In Nepal our Achilles heel was fielding but in Bermuda we finished great. Overall, everything is working for the team at the moment. And with the return of Usman Shuja and Kevin Darlington, I think we are ready.
Very often USA has been guilty of losing wickets in a heap. Your thoughts…
We have a good mix of attacking and defensive batsmen and sometimes it does not always work out the way we plan. Coach Lambert stressed that we must work on our game at the club level. But there is no question our batting and bowling is division I level. But, yes, that is something we have to be mindful of.
How do you see the Pearls Cup series in terms of USA Cricket?
The Pearls Cup was the best thing to happen to USA Cricket. First, it put us on the cricket map internationally. We proved that we can successfully host international games. I think that Don Lockerbie and everyone are doing a tremendous job.
For the US team it was a great opportunity to mingle with the teams [New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Jamaica]; to watch their approach …how they prepare for a game mentally and physically.
I think that the Jamaica experience meant a lot to our final preparations for Bermuda… same as in 2008 when we went to Guyana to participate in the WICB regional championship prior to winning the Americas Cup.
This past week the WICB announced a regional T20 competition and said that one international team will be invited. Do you think it should be USA?
Sure. I mean we are the Americas T20 division I Champs [having just defeated Canada]. Imran Khan [USA manager] calls us the Pakistan of the associate member countries – because we beat the best of teams.
Looking beyond Italy where do you see USA Cricket in the next year… three years?
I think we can make it back to division I by the summer of 2011. In August we go to the division 4 qualifiers; then in January its division 3. I believe division 2 is sometime in the summer of 2011, and I think we can get there. But we need to play well, and also a bit of luck.
Three years from now, 2013, I see us in the qualifiers for World Cup 2015.
How do you feel about your personal game?
I feel very confident with my game at present. Steve Massiah and Clayton Lambert always gave me support and encouragement since I entered the US team. At no time, I ever felt like I did not belong.
Final thoughts?
I want to thank my wife Renuka for her continued support when I am away from home, my parents for encouraging me to play cricket and last but not the least my employers Yardi Systems who have never stopped me from playing in international tournaments while representing the country.
Dr. Samaroo, I also want to thank you for your coverage of our games. We really enjoy reading your articles, and look forward to more of the same in the future.
* Since the interview, WICB has announced that it has chosen Canada to join the regional T20 competition.
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Posted comments
It is indeed a disappointment that the WICB has not chosen the USA to participate in the Caribbean T20 Inaugural Tournament. We here in the USA were enjoying such ahigh in our cricket seeing that the Pearls Cup was recently staged in the USA (Florida) and we were successful in our preparation for the event.
Secondly, I remember some years ago the WICB was asked by ICC to "big brother" us. This was a fitting example for the WICB to show that they are capable of handling responsibilities. But, if you look at what the WI team is doing -or not doing- at this time, you would be convinced, like me, that the WICB is not functioning for the best interest of cricket.
We have just won the championship in Bermuda. We have beaten our nemesis Canada, so I feel that we are deserved of an invitation to the Caribbean T20 Tournament.
Is the WICB afraid that we too, like other minnows, will annihilate them? Maybe!
We have so many Caribbean players in our squad. It would have been great for the people in the Caribbean to see their sons who have migrated, for various reasons, returning and representing the country they chose as their home.
Is it too late for the WICB to add a second international team to their fixtures? I would give this a thought, but consideraing the people in the WICB who have to do the thinking, it is my gut feeling that this would not be done. After you need brains to think. Does any on the "suits" on the WICB has that cranial acumen. Nah! But I dare them to prove me wrong and rethink their Caribbean T20 schedules.
I SAY INCLUDE TEAM USA !
Sam Sooppersaud, NY
Nice interview. Aditya seem like a grounded young man with a rich experience. Good luck to him and US team.
Ramesh, FL