Jeff Dujon

Basseterre (St Kitts): Jeffrey Dujon was a key member of the great West Indies team captained by Clive Lloyd (and, later, Viv Richards). He wasn’t just a terrific wicketkeeper, but good with the bat ? testimony being 3,322 runs at an average of 31.94 in 81 Tests and nearly 2,000 runs in 169 ODIs. In a decade-long career, he had 272 victims in Tests and 204 in ODIs. A former assistant coach, Dujon spoke to The Telegraph in Kingston the other afternoon.

The following are excerpts

On what keeps him busy

(Laughs) Giving interviews! As you’ve seen, I’m part of the TV commentary team... Till recently, I was Jamaica’s national coaching director, but there was a difference of opinion... The vision that I had wasn’t getting the support it needed... I’ve also served as a regional development officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)... In fact, if you recall, I was the West Indies team’s assistant coach for a couple of years... Now, I’m trying to establish myself in a new role.

On the quality of ’keeping in the present times

It’s not as good as it used to be, say, in the Eighties... Nor is it as bad as it’s made out... Teams now want to strike a balance and the focus is more on finding batsmen who can ’keep... Wicketkeepers who predominantly are batsmen...

On whether he’s comfortable with that

It’s not such a bad thing. The days of Bob Taylor and Wasim Bari are over... (After a pause) I myself came on the scene (1981) when teams were beginning to look for wicketkeepers who could effectively be allrounders.

On the qualities he would look for in a ’keeper

Good hands, agility and mental strength. A wicketkeeper is expected to be perfect, but he can’t be and, so, should have it in him to handle the pressure of a dropped catch or whatever? He will continue making mistakes if he isn’t mentally strong.

On his idol

I’ve never been big on heroes and idols, but it would be my father, Leroy... He played only one first-class match (for Jamaica), though.

On whether he envied a contemporary

I focused on my game.

On having kept to some of the fastest bowlers ever

Depending on the conditions, each one was (at different times) difficult to ’keep to... The thing about wicketkeeping is not to repeat mistakes.

On whether it’s time to include ’keepers in the allrounders’ category

Absolutely... In my book, wicketkeepers have always been so... It’s a question of accepting that...

On the finest ‘keeper of the present times

If you want an honest answer, then it’s that I can’t say. Reason being I haven’t seen all and it wouldn’t be proper making a comment on the basis of what I’ve seen on the TV... Moreover, we largely get to see the ODIs and the limited overs games aren’t the best place to judge a ’keeper... I’ve not just got to see all, but see them in varying conditions.

On Mahendra Singh Dhoni

I’ve only seen him ‘live’ in two matches... He couldn’t do so in the second ODI, but it’s interesting that Dhoni could turn a match on its head... He has looked competent behind the sticks, not that he has had much to do... Dhoni must play according to what is demanded... If he does, then he shouldn’t be worrying about pressure.

On Carlton Baugh (Jr)

Fundamentally, he needs to improve... He must pay attention to a few things... As a batsman, he has it to be explosive, which is why he’s there in the ODIs... (After a pause) When the Test series arrives, I expect Denesh Ramdin to be back... He’s a better ’keeper, but his work behind the sticks has suffered probably because of overconfidence... Perhaps, it could be fatigue, too. Ramdin, however, is a natural.

On Adam Gilchrist

Is a fantastic batsman-wicketkeeper... While I don’t need to talk about his batting, I feel he’s average behind the sticks... Of course, he ’keeps very well to Shane Warne, but I’ve seen him make mistakes standing back.

On India having capped a number of ’keepers in the post-Nayan Mongia period

I suppose it had everything to do with the talent available... I know we aren’t blessed with many wicketkeepers, but your selectors would have a much wider pool to choose from. When the numbers are more, there is some ‘instability’.

On whether the West Indies’ performances in recent years has hurt

It has been disappointing... It has been painful... My belief is that the administrators and selectors caused the decline of West Indies cricket... Hopefully, we’re now on the road to recovery... There may be pain in this period of recovery as well.

On Brian Lara getting back the captaincy

I’m not sure what to say... To develop, the West Indies team needs leadership... We’ve got to develop leaders... Got to develop tacticians and not be dependant on Lara’s batting... I think we’ve waited far too long to develop leaders... Frankly, I see Lara’s appointment as another stop-gap measure... If the powers-that-be can’t find a leader from within this group, well, then look outside... Somebody somewhere with leadership potential could just be waiting...

On having played under one of the great captains, Lloyd

He was a leader... He got a lot of big players to gel... Got them to play for the team...

On the repeated dispute between the players and the WICB over contracts

No comments.

On whether the 2007 World Cup is going to help cricket in the West Indies ward off the threat from basketball and baseball

We do have youngsters coming into cricket, what we lack is proper coaching... The World Cup will generate a lot of interest and leave us with improved infrastructure. How it’s going to be used remains to be seen.

On the West Indies, too, having opted for a coach (Bennett King) from overseas

The funny thing about the West Indies is that people don’t tend to have faith in their own... Don’t have confidence in their own... As if we don’t know what the next level is or that we can’t take the team there... The employment of a coach from overseas stems from a colonial mentality... If I can add, the powers given to King ? he’s a selector, for example ? were never given to any of our own coaches...

On Team India

Batting remains a strong point.

On why Australia stays ahead

(Grins) Because the Australians are better than the others, it’s a simple answer. They plan better, execute better and are supremely confident. Then, there has been consistency with selection... What else do you need?

On the ICC’s push towards more technology

A balance needs to be struck and those in authority should understand that being 100 per cent right may not actually be 100 per cent right for the game...

On Twenty20 beginning to be promoted in a big way

Like one-day cricket, it will provide entertainment. Yet, those who love watching Test cricket are going to continue doing so. That will always be the purest form, with the others largely giving financial support... (Adds emotionally) For me, every moment of Test cricket was an experience...

Lastly, his tips for youngsters

Get the fundamentals right and, then, keep improving with hours of practice... Of course, don’t repeat mistakes as they get noticed more than a difficult take or a great catch.