Harsha Bhogle grilled by Aussie coach for BT

Sudha Pillai / TNN / Jun 30, 2003, 02:07 IST

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When Bangalore Times met John Buchanan, Australian cricket team coach and Harsha Bhogle, ace commentator, we had a brainwave.

<arttitle>Harsha Bhogle grilled by Aussie coach for <i>BT</i></arttitle>

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">When Bangalore Times met John Buchanan, Australian cricket team coach (easily one of the most successful coaches in modern history) and Harsha Bhogle, ace commentator (easily one of the most talkative persons in modern history), we had a brainwave. We got the 6â€™5â€� tall John, who has led the Australian team to a world record of 16 straight Test and one-day international victories, to interview Harsha, the man who has interviewed numerous cricketers. Result: The interviewer became the interviewee. John: When did you start your career as a commentator? Harsha: Around 23 years ago. John: (winking) You still look 23! Harsha: (tongue-firmly-in-cheek) Oh, thank you John you are a good man. How old are you? John: I am interviewing YOU. Harsha: Canâ€™t a man try? I did a little bit of commentating when I was in college, for Ranji matches. However, Australia is an important place for me as far as my commentating career goes. I did a lot of work for ABC in Australia. John: I am sure itâ€™s difficult for the other person in the commentary box to get a word in with you around. Harsha: In Australia I learnt a valuable lesson. You give as good as you get. If you let yourself be pressurised by those Australian commentators you have no future. On the other hand, if you stand up to them and give it back to them, I mean verbally, they will respect you more and will go on to become great friends. I have many friends in Australia. John: Tell us about your experiences in those initial years. Harsha: It was Allan Border who took me into the menâ€™s dressing room and for the first time in my life I learnt what the players usually wear in the dressing room. Bangalore Times (BT): What? What? John: Hey, who is asking the questions here? BT: Sorry, we couldnâ€™t help it. John: Women! So, Harsha, what do they wear? Harsha: Nothing! John: Hmmm BT: Ohhhh Harsha: Mark Waugh, Craig McDermott, Merv Huges I have seen them all. John: (poker faced) What are some of the distinctive features that you saw. Remember we are not talking about facial features. Harsha: And you remember that my mother will be reading this interview. BT: (to ourselves!) Somebody please remember that our readers will roast us alive if you cross the line (but nobody heard us!) Harsha: David Boon carried his belly before him, Bret Lee has tooth pick legs and Merv Hughes...hmmm, I closed my eyes. John: Yeah, Merv is hairy. Take it from me, he is a very well insulated cricketer. Harsha: But he is such a jolly good fellow. I remember once, Venkatapathy Raju who is quarter the size of Merv Huges took a bet with his friends that he would twirl Hughesâ€™ moustache and he did it when Merv was sleeping. John: Describe one memorable moment in your career? Harsha: It was when India played Pakistan in Chennai in â€™91-92. We almost won the game when Sachin got out. We had very few runs to score and a whole lot of wickets in hand. But we lost the match. It was a very emotional game and Pakistan did something, which they had never done before in India. They did the victory lap. I saw the crowd rising and cheering them. Even the Pakistanis were overwhelmed. If they had tried something like that in Delhi they wouldâ€™ve been pelted. Chennai has the best crowd. John: You have two children aged 15 and 12. You are a family man and a very busy man. When do you find time to play husband and father in your busy schedule? Harsha: Yes, in the last two years, I have been travelling a lot. But when I am at home I try and spend quality time with the family and sometimes tend to overdo it. That is when my wife Anita gently reminds me to relax. In other words, itâ€™s like saying, â€œLook pal, the house functioned beautifully when you were not around. So, now donâ€™t throw your weight around.â€� How do you manage with five children John? John: Give up Harsha, I ask the questions around here. Tell us about your plans. Harsha: I want to discover difficult situations on live TV, ask for it and perform well at it. John: Any skeletons in your cupboard? Harsha: Actually, I am quite boring. My wife says she married me for my sense of humour. What about you John, do you find me interesting? John: Oh, Harsha, you do not give up, do you? BT: Harsha, what do you think about John the interviewer. Harsha: He was very stubborn and took his role seriously. Like always, Harsha Bhogle the man who can speak more words per minute than any normal human being had to have the last word. sudhapillai@indiatimes.com</div> </div>

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