da doce： In a little over three years, Brendan Nash has gone from being an Australia substitute fielder to playing a Test against them. He speaks about switching sides, and how much things have changed for him
da aposte e ganhe： Interview by Peter English23-Nov-2009Brendan Nash will line upat the Gabba on Thursday, on his old home ground, but this time he will beplaying for West Indies instead of Queensland. He left Australia, thecountry of his birth, to reacquaint himself with his family links in Jamaicain 2007 and has emerged as a reliable middle-order batsman for the Testteam, playing nine games and scoring his first century against England inMarch. Over the next month he knows he will face challenges on and off thefield, including some testing spells from Mitchell Johnson, his oldhouse-mate.You’ve been on the Gabba during aTest before as a substitute fielder for Australia. What are yourmemories from that 2005-06 encounter?
I dropped a catch so it wasn’t that great – it was Denesh Ramdin. As it’sturned out, something deep down inside of me probably told me to drop thatcatch. It was obviously a different time of my life.It must be amazing to think how much has changed in four years?
It is. At that stage I wasn’t in the Queensland team, so it has gone fromnot playing first-class cricket to being lucky enough to play Tests andODIs.You played in the drawn tourgame last week against your old side. What was the receptionlike?
So far the reception has been quite good. I heard the odd little comment inthe crowd but it wasn’t too bad. It’s just surprising. It shows I had sometrue fans when I was here and I hopefully did a job that they appreciated.The Team Nash support group will be at the Gabba. How many will be therewatching you?
I have hopefully 30 or 40 friends and family coming. Hopefully there will bea few more that I don’t know about. It’s great to hear.What about the rest of the crowd? Do you think they will support you aswell?
I doubt it, no, to be honest. I can understand it. I’m competing againstAustralia so I can understand them remembering my days as an Australian andfeeling very proud.Do you think you’re a better cricketer than when you were atQueensland?
I do feel that. In your late 20s and early 30s a lot of batsmen find theirbest form and I think that’s what I have been going through, and hopefully Ican continue it.From a distance, people might think you had an easy ride into the Testteam, but it was actually pretty tough.
It has been. There was a lot more to it. First of all I had to be accepted,which was the main thing, from the Jamaican people. They are a very proudcricketing nation, so to be invited to trials within the first few months Iwas there was quite a big step, and that’s probably what made it moredifficult. People didn’t quite understand why I was getting offered thesetrial matches for Jamaica when some guys had been playing for five or sixyears at local level and not getting a go.I performed pretty much straight away and I had probably had one shot at it.If I didn’t perform in the first few trial matches then I wouldn’t be heretoday, no doubt about that. I wouldn’t be playing for Jamaica. I was playinga cutthroat game-by-game situation. Settling into Jamaica was a little biteasier, having the heritage there. Once everyone understood what I was therefor and why I was there, it was a lot easier.And now you’re getting the rewards?
Exactly. It wasn’t that much different when I was back here playing atQueensland. You might have got two games. If you didn’t perform there wasanother guy knocking on the door. I’ve always had that pressure.
“Since I’ve been involved it feels like West Indies are taking baby steps, but we’re moving in the right direction. There’s no more standing still”
How do you feel you’ve developed as a Test player in your ninegames?
When I first came in I wasn’t expecting to play so many. I was just takingeach one as it came because it’s really a blessing. I never expected to playTest cricket and maybe, to some degree, that’s helped me.What are you looking forward to most in this series?
Every time you play a Test you are always looking forward to it. Given theopportunity to be in the XI, I want to do the best I can to help the teamout, to keep coming on the strides that we have been making. Since I’ve beeninvolved it feels like we’re taking baby steps, but we’re moving in theright direction. There’s no more standing still.Mitchell Johnson used to be a flatmate in a house you owned. Did you playa lot in the backyard?
There was no backyard but there was a bit of driveway cricket. There was asteep driveway. [Queensland’s Nathan Rimmington, who got him out in thetour game] was there as well. It was more those guys playing. I was alwaysworking. Those guys were having a great time during the day and outpartying. I might get a bat when I came home.Do you chat to Mitchell much?
I haven’t really spoken to him a lot, he’s quite busy, so the odd email andtext message. He’s come on in leaps and bounds since I last played against himand has got a lot of confidence. He’s one of the main bowlers, and withBrett Lee out now, he’s No. 1.Does being part of this team feel like the place that you’ve always beengoing towards?I think so. Maybe the experience in me, being a little bit older, everythinghas fitted in nicely. I do have a calm feeling inside of me and somethingthat felt like it was always there, and it’s coming out now.