Former Indian batsman –Pravin Amre, on Thursday, reflects back at his debut ton at Durban in 1992 in India’s first ever Test in South Africa, where the current national side is ready to lock horns in the first Test of the three-match series in Cape Town on 5th January 2018.
Amre had watched 12 Tests from the dressing room before getting a chance to play, though, the Mumbai batsman justified Coach Ajit Wadekar’s faith by playing the brilliant knock in his debut.
Although Amre’s first Test ton went in vain, as South Africa managed to draw the game at Durban, as well as second Test of the two-match series at Johannesburg in November 1992, his superb batting was celebrated and applauded by Sunil Gavaskar on ‘air’ and Kapil Dev in the dressing room.
According to a report in The Hindu, Pravin Amre said, “It was becoming frustrating. I had scored at an average of 87 plus in domestic cricket for more than six years. So this was special. “Really, it was an unforgettable day at Durban.”
He added, “I had come with a tag of a good player of spin only because I played spin well. People doubted if I could face genuine pace (of Allan Donald and Brett Schultz). It was tough. I took many balls on my body but hung in. I had backed myself to play the pace and bounce. I knew if I failed, I would not get another chance. I just hung in on what was then rated the fastest pitch in the world.”
Amre also reveals that played cricket because of Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, “I had grown up watching them. They were the reasons why I played cricket. To have earned their praise meant the world to me.”
He also has a piece of advice for Virat Kohli and his Team, concluded by saying, “Batsmen must utilize the loose balls and play as close to the body as possible. That’s the key.”
