“The pie-chucker is coming,” Yuvraj Singh announced as he walked into the press conference that was reduced to a laughter session. Predictably, the first question was about the new moniker Kevin Pietersen has bestowed on Yuvraj.
“When I got up in the morning and read the paper, and I said ‘what does this mean?’ So, I asked a few people and they said it meant a ‘useless kind of bowler’. It shows KP hates getting out to me. Well, a useless bowler getting him out five times would be because of useless batting, I’d say,” said Yuvraj before turning serious. “But that’s OK. He tried to get under my skin in the last game and that brought out the best in me. I tried the same and it brought out the best in him.”
Yuvraj explained that the on-field chatter sometimes went against the fielding side. “Sometimes it fires you up, sometimes it backfires,” said Yuvraj. “So, I really don’t mind the chat and look forward to the challenge every time I go on.”
Yuvraj knew where to draw the line and refused to call Pietersen his bunny. “I wouldn’t say so. You play so much cricket, you’re bound to get out to someone,” said Yuvraj. Yuvraj also insisted that he was a better bowler than Pietersen and cheekily added that he’d be happy to give the England captain some tips if he so desired. “I’ve got a better action. His action is useless but if he works hard on his action, he can be a good bowler,” said Yuvraj.
{{/usCountry}}Yuvraj knew where to draw the line and refused to call Pietersen his bunny. “I wouldn’t say so. You play so much cricket, you’re bound to get out to someone,” said Yuvraj. Yuvraj also insisted that he was a better bowler than Pietersen and cheekily added that he’d be happy to give the England captain some tips if he so desired. “I’ve got a better action. His action is useless but if he works hard on his action, he can be a good bowler,” said Yuvraj.
{{/usCountry}}“Yes, I’ll give him some tips. I’ll tell him how to bowl in the rough… We’ll have a chat about this when we finish the game.”
All the jollity aside, the year has been one when Yuvraj was part of some special moments, from the Twenty20 World Cup to his recent Test comeback in Chennai. “Getting 85 not out on the last day in Chennai was special for me because you don’t chase 390 everyday. With Sachin also there, that always will remain in my memories. A couple of other things, like winning in Australia and the Twenty20 victories. I’m looking forward to another one tomorrow as well,” said Yuvraj, becoming the latest player to credit the coaching staff. “I think with Gary Kirsten and Paddy Upton, the atmosphere in the team is good.”