Jasvinder Sidhu
During his initial days of struggles, former Australian captain, Steve Waugh, worked as a salesman at Kingsgrove Sports Center, a famous sports goods shop.
His Brother Mark also handled sell counter of the shop which is barely 10 minutes away from the suburban Kingsgrove Station, Sydney.
Steve Waugh, a cricketer turn publisher, had been encountered all ups and downs before becoming a most successful captain.
So, when Steve met 8-year-old promising young cricketer from Delhi’s Jamia Nagar, Shayan Jamal, on Monday, he had a lot of experiences to share with the young lad, a class three student.
Steve is writing a book about Indian cricketer, Sprit of Indian Cricket, and he wanted to include Shayan Jamal’s story in it.
As Steve had seen Jamal’s batting video on social media, he asked his manager to find the boy.
After a few phone calls, the search ended, and Steve landed to meet the kid at a net in a Gurgaon facility.
” Hay, You bats like a champion. Like Virat, ” that was Steve’s first reaction after watching Shayan batting at the net.
In an about two hours interview session with Steve and his team, Shayan convinced them that their search was a worth.
” How many hours you practice! Do you have any Sponsor! Do you like to study! Who is your favourite player? Please show me your kit! Ok, now play this shot.” Following the series of questions, Steve visible convinced that Shayan was his story.
” Steve sir manager called me and said he wanted to see Shayan,”
Shayan’s father Arshad Jamal told this writer. ” When we reached there, a whole team was waiting for us. There were two photo cameramen and a videographer. They captured Shayans batting and whatever Steve sir giving tips to him. I was a lifetime experience.”
After a long session, Steve had a lot of advice for Arshad.
” If you want to see him grow as a good cricketer, you have to use the brain rather than emotions,” Steve told Arshad, who himself wanted to be a professional cricketer and than a businessman but failed. Now he is the coach of his son, who becomes his only hope.
At first glance, Shayan seems a great potential. He is habitual to play his shots along the surface. He can play the cover shot as well as can clear the ball down the leg. But only the future will tell where he would reach.
Steve was impressed with Shayan’s attitude, who was struggling to answer in English, but his father helps him as a translator.
“He is a good prospect. You(Arshad) have to be careful. It would help if you groomed him in good hands, ” Steve said.
“His every advice is worth. Every word by such stature is education for Shayan and me. ” Arshad said.
Before concluding the session, Steve provided all of his communication details, including Skype address. He told the Shayan that he could call him whenever he needs help for his cricket or anything else.
Seven years back, Steve had published his, The Meaning Of Luck, as a publisher. He had autographed 4649 copies of the book at a single sitting for 14 hours.