Some cricket supporters have been amazed to find Shane Warne indulging in hyperbole in his praise of his Rajasthan Royals teammates.
Before last year's Indian Premier League (IPL) in South Africa, he had to chose between calling Kamran Khan, the rookie left-arm fast bowler, "Wild Thing" or "Tornado", as every player was given a nickname to define their role in the side .
This year, he felt Yusuf Pathan's thunderous 37-ball century against the Mumbai Indians in his side's opening match of the tournament at the Brabourne Stadium was the best innings he had ever seen.
Warne could have brooded over the wafer thin-margin loss to the Mumbai, but he gained more mileage for his team with his statement. He is a master of both spin and PR.
Considering that Warne played international cricket for nearly two decades, even some of his biggest admirers found his judgement far too flippant.
What about Brian Lara's knocks which denied Australia a series win in the West Indies in 1999?
Wasn't Sachin Tendulkar's 155 in the Chennai Test of 1998 a knock of a lifetime?
Or for that matter, VVS Laxman's 281 in Kolkata. Warne saw all these gems from a 22-yard distance.
Even the importance about respecting the view of the greatest modern spinner did not convince the disbelievers.
However, even Warne was been the subject of seemingly over-the-top hype. Rodney Hogg, the former Australia fast bowler, took one look at Warne long before he played first-class cricket for Victoria and wrote in a newspaper column that he would go on to claim more than 500 Test wickets.
Hogg's view got him the sack as The Truth's columnist, but Warne ended up with 706 Test wickets.
Probably Warne is convinced that talking up his teammates in public will motivate them to greater things.
"He makes you believe you can do it even if you are crippled with self doubt," a Rajasthan Royals teammate of his once told me.
When some IPL franchise bosses this year decided they had no room in their squads for Indian youngsters Warne expressed his regret on the social networking website Twitter.
There is a lot of cynicism about the IPL, but the fact that several young Indian players are benefiting from the knowledge passed on by experiences players such as Warne has to be a positive.
Apart from the countless net sessions they take part in together, a cricketer can develop simply by watching and listening.
Sunil Gavaskar, the Indian batting legend, will never forget how much he picked up by listening to his senior players in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team on train journeys while travelling to inter-state matches.
Considering how much Warne loves mentoring young players, even a bus ride to the ground must be a learning experience.
Warne also profited from speaking to great players. Richie Benaud, the former Australian captain and slow bowler, remembers Warne asking him about ways to master the art of leg-spin at a golf event in the early 1990s.
Benaud agreed to help, saying that he would pass on a secret which Bill O'Reilly, another former Australian spinner, told him very early in his career.
Despite being an established member of the Australian team, Warne was always looking for ways to get even better.
While doing some work for Channel Nine during the Augusta Masters in 1996, Warne spoke to Ian Chappell, who captained Australia between 1971 and 1975, about improving his batting.
Chappell promised to have a net with him the next time he came over to coach at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide.
The session helped Warne with the hook shot. Alas, he ended his Test career with no century, but he came quite close - a 99 against New Zealand in Perth 2001.
Knowing Chappell well over the years must have helped Warne with his own captaincy.
Like Chappell, he is an out-and-out players' man. If you follow Warne on Twitter, you will notice how he still mentions Ravindra Jadeja as one of the players the Royals are missing this season.
Jadeja is a banned player because he looked to get a better deal from another IPL team. He may be forgotten by the Royals, but he is still remembered by his former captain.
"Something I've always enjoyed doing in the dressing room is observing how different players react to different situations," said Warne in his autobiography.
"And that is something a captain can use in motivating his players. Once you get to know players you can generally tell if someone is on song or not."
Warne goes out of the way to get to know his players better. During the first IPL season, the Royals took a break in Goa, the home of Swapnil Asnodkar, his opening batsman.
So what did Warne do? He accepted an invitation to visit Asnodkar's family and enjoy a meal with them.
This sort of thing may not make it into a "must do" section in any captaincy manual, but it does wonders for a captain-player relationship.
It may sound audacious to suggest that he would be a good man for the Indian cricket board to rope in to improve their spin stocks, but who knows modern spin bowling better than him?
With his huge presence in the IPL, Warne has made a favourable impression on young Indian cricketers and if they happen to be picked to train under him, the results will always bode well for India, who desperately need to unearth some new spinners.
Yes, Warne has more to give than just to the Royals. And even non-supporters of the IPL should be happy to hear that.
Clayton Murzello is the Group Sports Editor of the Indian newspaper Midday
@Email:sports@thenational.ae
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
MATCH INFO
Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
CREW
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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SHAITTAN
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The Bio
Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees (oats with chicken) is one of them
Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.
Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results
During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks
Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy
Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
