Termed the next Shane Warne, the shy 28-year-old still gets embarrassed when someone compares him with the Australian spin wizard. "You can't compare him with anyone. He's a legend," says Cameron White. In 2008, when White got the breakthrough in India, people back home thought he could take Warne's place when the legend retired. "It was flattering but people were a bit uneducated to pass such remarks," he says candidly, adjusting his cap.
Playing for the Deccan Chargers for the second consecutive year - he had donned Royal Challengers colours from 2008-2010 - White has been the only bright spot for the Hyderabad team. With knocks of 78, 74 and 77, it's been frustrating to be able to win only two games.
T20 for discards?
It's been said that T20 cricket has opened the doors for players who are not able to find a place in their respective national squads. "I wouldn't really call it a trend but maybe cricketers, who are at the fag end of their careers and know they wouldn't be playing for their national teams anymore, well they would probably choose to go down the T20 path. But, today, with so many foreign cricketers playing in various leagues around the world, T20 specialists have been born," avers White.
After choosing to concentrate on batting rather than bowling, White realised where his calling was. "I realised that I was better off being a batsman and that's what it's been ever since," the former Australia T20 vice-captain explains. "I've worked really hard on my batting. But it was nice to be able to bowl a few overs in this IPL."
{{/usCountry}}After choosing to concentrate on batting rather than bowling, White realised where his calling was. "I realised that I was better off being a batsman and that's what it's been ever since," the former Australia T20 vice-captain explains. "I've worked really hard on my batting. But it was nice to be able to bowl a few overs in this IPL."
{{/usCountry}}Keen golfer
For the golfer with a handicap of nine, White believes T20 brings out extraordinary things in a cricketer. "Steven Smith is called an acrobat…with such a format, we are learning to adapt!"
After five seasons, it's clear that the IPL is a batsman's game. So, does he see bowlers adapting to the conditions? "With batsmen hitting sixes and fours, bowlers have no choice but to get better at their job," he says. "It's their job to try and make things difficult for us!"
Comeback on mind
Being out of national reckoning for the last one year, White has comeback on his mind. So, once IPL is over, the fishing enthusiast will be playing county cricket for Northamptonshire and then represent Victoria in Sheffield Shield. "One can only hope the selectors are looking, though I can't really say how much of the IPL will be considered. But one never knows."