‘Sachin, Sehwag gave me a headache’ – Wayne Parnell shares experience of the opposite India Legends [Exclusive Interview]

Wayne Parnell Is one of those cricketers that streets will certainly not forget. He was part of the golden age of the South African cricket team, including the will of Greate Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ab de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Morne Morrel. Although the party won none of the ICC trophies during this period, the Proteas attack of which Parnell was part was certainly the most feared opposition around the world in the international arena.

However, Parnell also had panic attacks when he would come to the legendary Indian Slagman Virender Sehwag. During our exclusive interaction with Parnell, who was filled with a fun, fascinating conversation, the former cricket player opened his best moments, the experiences of the IPL and his future ambitions after he had left the sport professionally.

Extracts

You are the leader in South Africa in the U-19 World Cup 2008 and ended up as the leading Wicket-Taker. How did that tournament change your expectations of yourself and the expectations of others of you?

I think it was more of the expectations of others. For myself I just want to have fun playing cricket. I have no expectations. After I returned from that world cup, the next 12 months, my life changed a lot. The next January I was chosen for the Proteas. I was more about playing and just having fun.

Like a left maren, your corner is a real weapon. How have you developed seam and waved over the years to stay more relevant in the formats?

Initially, Swing was clearly a large part of my game. And then I lost a bit. More along lines of coaching styles at that time, I tried to find consistency, I lost my real strength early. After a while I really adapted to get my swing back and still be relevant to play in sizes and play on different surfaces around the world, which was really important. If you play in SA in India, you have to bowling otherwise. If you are going to play in the UK, you have to bowl otherwise. I was lucky to meet the group of players who were really helpful in sharing knowledge, and it is up to the player to find out what really comes out for them.

You have played against India several times – which Indian Slagman has challenged you the most?

I think the answer that everyone is probably looking for is Virat Kohli, but for me when I started playing, Virender Sehwag Gave me a lot of headaches and also Sachin Tendulkar when he scored that 200, he made batting very, very easy. He was also very competent. Sehwag always got a lot of limits, while Tendulkar will manipulate the field, he will hit a certain room, we try to cover that place, and he moves over and touches to another place. He was real, very smart as he played. The two probably gave many sleepless nights early when we played against India. Also, bowling for someone like Mrs. Dhoni in death, it was very, very difficult.

Have you ever had a memorable conversation or tip from an Indian cricket player who stayed with you?

I have had many good conversations with many boys. But one thing that really stands out for me was with Ashish Nehra. I grew up to admire him, a colleague-Links-Zeeman. I was lucky to play a season next to him in Pune Warriors India. I remember that I had a conversation at the top of a pune stage while eating. I think it was in line with understanding your role within a certain team and how to set up a team. That is something that I have taken over all over the world, where I also played. And also to stay with what you are known for. It was clear to me, like a left maren, it was to wave the ball, which I lost a bit. It feels like a one-touch movement, a bit back in something that I have had success. That was a wonderful conversation and that is something that I will pass on to my colleague cricketers and also young people who arrive to understand what your strengths are and really use it, what makes you different.

Who do you think will be the next big thing in South African cricket (probably all-formats, probably), and what is one message that you would give to the next generation of South African fast bowling all-rounders?

Looking at the current team, someone like Marco Jansen did very well. The other three names are Kwena Maphaka, he has the potential to do well over the next 15 years. Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, in the same way also in formats and Dewald Brevis also. I think those four boys I mentioned are the boys I would probably look at for the next decade to build teams from South African point of view. I just make sure that these guys are really cared for.

Do you have plans for coaching, comments or cricket administration after your match days?

I have previously done some commentary tints, which I really enjoyed, some insights shared and viewers try to let the different side of cricket understand. Coaching, if you had asked me two years ago, I would have said no. But at the back of my career I found out that I accompany many boys and that is something I enjoyed a lot. Coaching is something I would like to record, but I am not sure when that would be, especially in the shortest format. It would be selfish to keep all that knowledge to myself. Over the years I am lucky to play with and against many players in the shortest size. I am a very curious person and I ask many questions. Hopefully I can share my knowledge with the coming generations.

If you got the chance to use a time machine, what is the only thing you would change of your cricket career?

I went through a period in my career in which I did not enjoy. I was just playing, went to the next game and the next series. If I could go back, I would really change that. I think I had a lot of fun in the last 7-8 years. It is also shown on the field. If I could go back, I would remind myself of just having fun.

Is that the celebration planned in advance by the entire team after the WCL title profit?

Well, not planned in advance. I think I did it one of the group matches against England. Yes, we are professional cricketers, but we are also entertainers. We have to make the game fun for the next generation to record the game and let them play. One of the media boys came to me and introduced this celebration if we win the final. We played the final, won it. He came to me and introduced me to do it. I went to ab and he said, let’s do it. All others were on board with it. It is well received all over the world.

Who in the current Indian team do you think the best of the left arm plays best?

Shubman Gill is a really stylish player. He plays right arm, left arm and runs very well.

You played T20 cricket all over the world. Which competition is the most difficult, and which competition is the most entertaining?

IPL is by far the toughest competition in the world. It is the best versus the best. It is clear that India has an abundance of talent. They have so many high -quality cricketers and then we don’t have an international cricket during that window and there are many international cricketers available, play the competition. In terms of pleasure, I enjoyed the CPL, only because of how people are in the Caribbean. But I try to have fun wherever I go. I also had a very nice experience in England during the T20 explosion.

Why do so many South African stars such as Ab de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen retire early, while proven legends such as Faf du Plessis are often overlooked?

I think any case is isolated. Perhaps in the case of AB it was probably a burnout. The biggest thing about AB is that he cannot do anything with less than 100% or a warming or a good game. I think that from a physical point of view that he is very burdened. From a mental point of view that was also a lot of pressure on him. And then going to IPL, puts a lot of tension because it is hard cricket for two months, which pays him out. For other cricketers I don’t understand why. I understand when quinny [Quinton de Kock] With retirement from the longest size of the game, he wanted to concentrate more on White Ball Cricket to extend his career. I am not even sure if he is still available to play in T20i Cricket or not, which is a bizarre. He is really a good player. Heinrich Klaasen, of course personal decisions have played a huge part of it. I still have the feeling that he had a lot to offer, especially in white ball formats. With regard to someone like FAF, he is still available to play T20i Cricket. He still scores consistently runs in every competition at the age of 41.

Quick fire

One word that describes the players below

• Dale Steyn – Aggression
• Ab de Villliers – Alien
• Virat Kohli – Consistent
• Jacques Kallis – GOAT
• Sachin Tendulkar – Master
• Wayne Parnell – Overestim

Take a hat trick or score a last ball for six?

Hat trick

IPL or PSL?

IPL

Cut back or stay still?

Speed

Bowling for Ab de Villiers or Virat Kohli?

Virat Kohli

Dressing room chatter or serious game interview?

Both actually

Night owl or early bird?

Early bird

T20 or test cricket?

For me, T20 Cricket

Bowling Yorkers or slower balls?

Yorkers

Morning training or evening training?

Evening training

Home games or travel?

Away games because the audience is against you

Win a match with the ball or with the bat?

With the ball

ODI World Cup or T20 World Cup?

As South African

Favorite teammate?

Kagiso Rabada

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