When I get on the pitch I have to make sure I am getting hundreds and taking six-fors.
Over the years I have been watching Pakistan when playing against them or with them in county cricket. And they have been brilliant bowlers and batsmen and great individuals.
Pressure is the biggest single factor in Test cricket.
I felt I bowled well for Barbados, and that helped me.
Every player needs to be aware of the levels of fitness needed to play international cricket.
Cricket is 90-95 per cent mental. To score runs, you've got to feel good about yourself.
Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock were my heroes, so I thought averaging 22 or 23 and taking five-wicket hauls was normal.
Having played before and been dropped I think people will always remember that, so if I am ever going to play Tests again I will need to show improvements in red-ball cricket.
India Are Playing Very Good Cricket Under The Leadership Of MS Dhoni.
In Test matches, you have to play consistent cricket for a period of time.
I still remember my quote from the 2007 World Cup, when I said scoring two threes was as good as hitting a six. That was me trying to justify what you couldn't. To me, and this was before I became director of cricket, we just couldn't do that again.
I'd be lying if I say that not scoring a Test century was a burden on me.
Test cricket is a different sort of cricket altogether. Some players who are good for one-day cricket may be a handicap in a Test match.
I loved playing at Lord's - I ended up with 26 wickets at 11.50 from three Tests there. Maybe the wicket, because of the slope, was perfect for my style of bowling.
It's very important in international cricket to be able to hold a bat, not just hold up an end, but have the ability to score runs.
I am trying to take my ODI confidence to Test cricket.
The IPL is just pure, intense. You don't need all the other stuff. I don't believe in coaches in international cricket.
I always want to be known as a good Test cricketer. I believe I have the ability to score big runs in the longer format. For that, I know I have to score heavily in whatever opportunities I get.
Sometimes fitness is a good thing to have, but you have to recognise that fitness takes you only so far, and skills are the most important thing. Fitness just helps you execute those cricketing skills for longer and more consistently, maybe.
Since coming into T20s, I have improved a lot in the death overs.
I felt I have gifted my wicket. So more than technique, I need to work on my shot selection, I need to decide which ball to be hit, I was going for every shot.
I put my heart, soul and tears into the game and this is what I get. I don't know what to do. My wife can't sleep at night. I hold my daughter all night. I am ashamed I played cricket.
Age is just a number. If someone can perform at 45, who will stop that fellow from playing top-level cricket?
We played well in Kenya. We didn't lose a game and we bowled Pakistan out for 100 twice. We don't need to change much from that for this tournament.
I believe it's a wrong conclusion to draw that Indians can't play spin bowling.
