It is no exaggeration to say that Michael Bevan is one of the greatest one-day cricketers of all-time. He won so many matches batting down the order and chasing difficult targets that one has really lost the count of them.
When the chips were down, Bevan was the man every Australian captain relied upon. And he lived up to expectations more often than not. It was only because of Australia's traditional embarrassment-of-riches syndrome that the selectors could afford to drop a proven match-winner like him when he was still good enough to play for a few years more. Nor did they utilise to the full his potential in Test cricket.
However, Bevan never lost sleep over such matters and kept performing and winning matches for his country with a high degree of regularity. But for Australia possessing a formidable batting line-up, his record would have been more startling. The unassuming Aussie was engaged in a hearty conversation with Haresh Pandya during the ICL tournament in Panchkula on the outskirts of Chandigarh.
It seems you were given a raw deal by the Australian selectors towards the end of your almost phenomenal career, when you were still good enough to last a few years more. How did you take it? How did you console yourself?
Well, I got dropped from the Australian team in 2004. It was just after the World Cup in South Africa in 2003, my last game for Australia. Obviously, you get disappointed as a player. I always felt I was still hitting the ball really well. And till I retired in January, I felt I was probably playing as well as I had been throughout my career. So it was disappointing. But you just have to move on.
Did you figure out why they dropped you when you were still good enough?
I just think they [the selectors] had a number of young players in Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and others. They wanted these types of players to play in the 2007 World Cup. So I think I just made a decision [to retire], really.
But, at the same time, the selectors continued with some senior players, didn't they?
Yes, that is right. It could not be helped; but that is the decision I made.
You were regarded as the best finisher in the game. How did you manage to finish the tightest of matches in your team's favour so often? Did circumstances make you such a perfect finisher, as you had invariably to bat down the order because of the strong Australian batting line-up?
I am not too sure, really. I used to be comfortable batting at the end. I used to know my game plan. I used to know what I was trying to achieve. And I always tried to minimise the risk, which meant I was at the wicket till the end to help the team.
What was the secret of your success batting down the order?
I just think I had a good game plan. I was patient. I chose the right balls to hit. I was pretty flexible. I had a range of shots, which meant you could take the pressure off yourself. So those things probably enabled me to bat confidently and successfully. You could call them my strength probably.
The pressure seemed to bring the best out of you. Was this because you were mentally strong?
Well, I always felt comfortable chasing a score. Whatever reasons, I always felt comfortable chasing a target. And I just made sure I had a good strategy.
What were your better moments as a player?
I think I was lucky enough to be part of the three World Cups. I also made a couple of Ashes tours. From a personal perspective, there were a couple of close games and I was lucky enough to help Australia win. I was probably best known for a four off the last ball against the West Indies in 1996. But from a team perspective, I guess the 1999 World Cup in England was a highlight for me.
Which were the sad or unfortunate moments?
Probably the one when we lost the 1996 World Cup final to Sri Lanka, I guess. And obviously being dropped from the Australian Test side was very hard.
You were a very good bowler, too. But your captains hardly or never utilised your bowling talents. Wasn't it true?
Well, I was probably never consistent as a bowler. Sometimes I bowled well and sometimes I did not.
That was only in the initial stage of your career. But later on you were almost never pressed into service as a bowlerÂ…
No, I myself did not bowl very much in the later part of my career.
Was it because you were typecast as a batsman by then?
No, no. I just think I was not bowling well enough.
You had different captains during your international career. Where did they did differ from one another in terms of strategies?
I think Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting were all very good captains. Mark Taylor was very good with players. He was a good communicator. He was very good tactically. Steve Waugh was a great leader and that was one of his strengths. Ricky Ponting was a combination of both Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, really.
How was your rapport with your skippers?
Pretty good. Most of them were honest with the players and understood what we needed to do. And they communicated that pretty well.
What makes Australia such a powerful side? What is the secret of its continuous success?
Well, we have got good, genuine performers in place. Our domestic competition is strong. We are always competitive. We play competitively. We always play to win. We always try to improve. We are a closely-knit unit. We have good senior players and leaders. So it is a combination of many factors that make Australia a successful team.
Team India is full of stars and superstars. What about Team Australia?
No, we never tend to treat our players as stars or superstars, whether they are seniors or juniors. All are treated equally. They are playing for one team, one country. Our ultimate goal has always been to make Australia victorious. We strongly believe in the fact that the team and the country are always bigger and greater than the individuals.
Why is it that the Aussies tend to indulge in sledging? Hasn't the term sledging become synonymous with the Australian team?
I do not think so and I do not agree with that. I think what you are saying is more of a media creation than anything else. It is far from the truth.
Did you encounter sledging from some of your opponents?
Yeah. I think a bit of sledging has been going on in world cricket with every team. But the guys have learnt to deal with it now. International cricket is very tough today and you have to take the rough with the smooth.
But don't you think a line should be drawn somewhere? After all, cricket is only a sport, not a war...
Well, it has already been drawn. The ICC has come up with the rules and regulations to check sledging and unfair play.
What does cricket actually mean to you?
I was fortunate to play something I love doing. I have played for my country and I have been reasonably successful. So I am really fortunate.
Any regrets at having not achieved something you may have wanted to achieve?
Well, I would have liked to play more Tests, too. But I have overcome that disappointment now. Obviously, I was a better player at the end of my career than at the start or in the middle of it. So I think if I had got another chance, I would probably have played better in Test cricket as well. But I have overcome all that and moved on. So no regrets, really. No.
What is Michael Bevan off the field, especially in terms of other interests?
I still love my sports. I love playing golf. I love playing soccer. I am a father and a family man. So quite often I go out on the beach or in the pool with my girls and we go out for dinner with my wife.
