Scoring a hundred here is special: Rahane

Scoring a hundred here is special: Rahane
by Cricbuzz Staff •
Last updated on Tuesday, 02 August, 2016, 04:34 AM

Rahane revealed that India weren't thinking about the weather forecast © AFP
After scoring his 7th Test ton, Ajinkya Rahane addressed the media at the end of the third day's play in Jamaica. Excerpts from the press conference:

Instructions with an eye on the weather?

We were not thinking about the weather. Initially, in the morning, we wanted to play normal cricket. Unfortunately Wriddhiman got out just before lunch. That partnership was really important for us. The plan was to bat once and bat long and I think we did that. There's still some help for the fast bowlers in the wicket and I thought Holder bowled a very good spell before lunch. He bowled pretty well. After lunch the plan was to play positive and try and get a 300-plus lead. Unfortunately the rain came in, that's not something we can control.

About the hundred..

Frankly speaking I was not thinking about my hundred. When Mishra and Shami got out I told Umesh to play normal cricket. Just give your 100% whether defending or playing a shot. When I was 84-85 I wanted to play normal cricket but the offie brought his long off in and I wanted to clear the fielder. When I was on 95, just play normal cricket and once I get my hundred we'll play some shots.

Mindset..

I was disappointed with the way I got out in the first Test. But, whether we play in India or abroad, what's important for me is my process and preparations. I never think about scoring hundreds. I think the results will follow as long as I prepare well and my processes are right. I think about the small small things that are helpful for me. At the same time scoring a hundred here is special, getting to the three-figure mark is really really special for a batsman.

India cracked West Indies..

Yes. As I said earlier, patience will the key here. Wickets are getting slower and slower and it's not easy to play your shots and get runs. Once you are set you can play your shots. This goes for the bowlers as well. There is something for the fast bowlers but it's important for us to bowl a decent line and length tomorrow. We have to bowl patiently. In the first Test match we bowled in good areas and we bowled consistently. If we do that we will be in a good position tomorrow.

Nets before the game

I was just looking to get my rhythm back and play some basic shots. Instead of playing in the ground, because it was a bit soft, I preferred to go to the nets to get my footwork and rhythm right. That was my intention.

That hundred was indeed special as it might have changed the entire look and face of the game.

Also, Rahane has been pretty consistent in the past few test innings and therefore, it was kind of expected from him to get at least a decent score if not a 100 and though it was special but, we sure can't say that it came unexpected.

The responses to the questions seemed pretty standard to me and I wouldn't have expected anything controversial to be said. Rahane was due to make a ton at some point as I think from his recent innings he's been a consistent player if not spectacular and I think that eventually you will always get a scenario where a safe and consistent player will make a big score every once in a while. Sadly for the West Indies, that once in a while just happened to be now.

Rahanne scored centuries in both innings of the match against South Africa - the series prior to this one. He came into this series in excellent form with 4 centuries in the last 12 months. He doesn't score centuries every once in a while, he scores centuries often. No batsman has more centuries over the last year.

ESPN's Statsguru has a wealth of information that can be of assistance to you.