No matter what, I was always looking for a wicket. Whether I was bowling to restrict or bowling to get wickets, at the back of my mind, I always had the thought that I wanted the wicket.
I always try and emphasize on having specific net sessions on 'death bowling.' It is similar to length balls - the more you practice, the better you get at it.
If there is nothing in the wicket for spinners, then it's good to try something different. Over the wicket or around the wicket, just try and create chances.
I enjoy wicket-keeping in the shorter format. I think when we are bowling first, it gives me an idea of how the wicket is behaving.
I don't practise it that much, maybe two or three times a week. It's a natural skill that I have, to hit long balls, so I don't need to practise it every day.
During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at-bats a season. That means I played 7 years without ever hitting the ball.
Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times.
Whenever I practise in the nets, I practise each and every situation - be it with the new ball, be it with the old ball, or death bowling at the death.
In terms of how much pain they cause, injuries change over time and how much the elbow hurt varied while I was bowling. At times, it felt a lot better, and at times it was worse.
Not many days you get a nice, fast bowling wicket.
Practise only as many times as you have breakfast.
Good times are a reminder and a reward for dealing with the difficult and challenging times we all go through. The trick is to celebrate the good times in advance of the difficult times. Always remember, good times await you after the difficult times pass.
In 21 years there are a lot of ups and downs. There are melancholy times. There are sad times. There are happy times. There are unsure times. There are life lessons.
I have times when I'm off-balance. I have times when I slur my words. I have times when I walk into walls. I have times when I can't remember somebody's name.
There's gonna be good times and bad times. When the good times come you got to ride it as long as you can. And when the bad times come you got to battle and try to get out of there as soon as you can.
There have been a few times when I wondered if I was ever going to take a wicket, but you never give up.