Blab with Sandy: Jack Russell

Sandy: If you could let us know about your early background?

Jack: I was born at Stroud, Gloucestershire on 15th August, 1963.  I studied at the Uplands County Primary School and Archway Comprehensive School. My father John played cricket for Chalford CC near Stroud. My late young brother played for Stroud CC and Gloucestershire CCC 2nd XI.  My home town cricket club was Stroud CC. I played Gloucestershire Schools and England Schools against India (Captained by Ravi Shastri).  I had played England Under-19’s against West Indies Under-19’s (WI included Courtney Walsh).

Sandy: When and how did your cricketing career get a kick-off?

Jack: I loved watching Test cricket in the 1970’s. My heroes were Alan Knott and Bob Taylor.  We had two very keen sports masters at secondary school (Rick Rutter and Graham Fryer) and a strong cricket team which I captained and we only lost 2 games in 4 years. I joined Stroud Cricket Club as a youngster in 1975.  When Alan Knott caught Rick McCosker at Heading in 1977 off the bowling of Tony Greig, I decided then I was going to play for England.

I played junior cricket at Gloucestershire CCC playing my first 2nd XI match at the age of 14.  I made my first class debut for Gloucestershire against the touring Sri Lankans at Bristol in 1981 while still at school age 17.  I became a full time professional the following year 1982 aged 18.

Sandy: You belong to the land that invented cricket. Who were your role models during your early stages of international cricket?

Jack: Alan Knott, Bob Taylor, and Ian Botham.

Sandy: Whom amongst the current generation of English players would you rate the highest in terms of skills, talent, and grit?

Jack: Ben Stokes and Joe Root.

Sandy: Interested to know more about the epic partnership you had with Michael Atherton. It will be great if you could share some anecdotes?

Jack: When I walked to the wicket in Johannesburg with still a day to bat I could see in Mike Atherton’s eyes that he was going to save the game for us so I had to make sure I did my bit the other end. He was the inspiration. My target was to be 0 (zero) not out at the end of play so we could both save the game.

The day before I had broken the world record for dismissals in a test match so was on a high and deterred not too have that spoilt by losing the game.  Mike Atherton batted nearly two days while I just batted nearly the one.  Apart from my famous hat, it’s the most mentioned match in my career. Nearly every day some recalls where they were or what they were doing that day to me.

Sandy: How did you feel during a particular stage of your career when Alec Stewart took the wicket-keeper’s place repeatedly despite you being termed as the best wicketkeeper during that time in international cricket? Every cricketer gets to see this scenario, so how did you cope up with the tough moments in your life?

Jack: When that happened, you had two choices. You could give up or fight on to get my place back. So I decided to fight on.  The problem arose when Ian Botham retired and England struggles to find that middle order all rounder so England so in order to play 5 bowlers Alec had to bat in the top 6 and keep wicket.

Sandy:  What is the best quality you take amongst the captains you played under, say Graham Gooch, Mike Gatting, and the others?

Jack: Gooch great leader from the front and was a relentless run scorer. Sometimes people forget when he made 333 at Lords v India. He also scored a 100 in the 2nd innings!  Mike Atherton was one of the toughest guys I played with, stubborn and as hard as nails.  He was easy to communicate with for me.  If I said I tour that getting rest and going painting was better for me than another practice session, he never argued and would just say go painting, I’ll tell the coach.

Sandy: Who is the best bowler for whom you kept wickets for, also the best batsman you had seen on field during your playing days (or) the best bowling spell or batsman innings he witnessed while on the field?

Jack: Vivian Richards was the best I ever stood one yard behind. He could hit the same delivery into 6 different parts of the ground depending on which took his fancy.  Brian Lara was very similar, could do the same but Viv had a presence like no other batsman has ever had in the history of the game. Sachin comes close behind those two. He is yet another genius.

Sandy: Post your retirement and Alec Stewart’s retirement, England tried a beeline of keepers like James Foster, Chris Read, Geraint Jones (whom you’d coached) but until Matt Prior came in, the keeper’s position was never stable. Three of them created huge buzz thanks to their tremendous performances in county cricket. What do you think went wrong with regards to Foster, Read, and Jones careers?

Jack: Nothing went wrong with their careers. They just didn’t play as often as they should for whatever reason the selectors may have had.  Jones did a great job in 2005 to help England in the Ashes back for the first time since 1989.  The all rounder problem has never really resolved until Stokes came along. That didn’t help.

Sandy: Apart from cricket, your artwork always did the talking, be it during your playing days or your post-retirement days till date! Please throw some light on this creative aspect of your life. What art are you into and are they put up for exhibitions and sale?

Jack: I started painting because I became bored sat in the pavilion at cricket matches watching the rain fall.  I thought if Rembrandt could do it then so could I so I taught myself to draw and paint.  People began to buy my pictures so for the last 30 years I have been a professional artist as well as cricketer.

When I retired from playing cricket it became my full time job so I now spend as much of the time dedicating myself to painting good pictures as I did trying to catch and hit cricket balls.

I’m obsessed with the process. I paint all day every day if I can.  If I miss a day’s painting I get very irritable. It’s the only skill I’ve got left. Luckily for me people want the hang my paintings on their walls so for that reason I am very thankful every day. My work can be seen at jackrussell.co.uk.

Quick Shot Round:

• Jos Butler/Johnny Bairstow/Ben Foakes, who is the better keeper: They are all good, but Foakes is the most natural keeper
• Your favorite batting stroke: Cut over third man for 6 or the sweep shot for 4
• An Indian player that you admired during your playing days: Sachin Tendulkar – genius and an absolute gentleman
• A thing that you hate about cricket: Getting out or dropping a catch
• Your close friend(s) in the England cricket team: Alec Stewart
• Who was the funniest player in the dressing room? Phil Tufnell – comedian
• If you had to do away with either your famous hat or your famous sunglasses during your play days, which one would you opt for? I would never have given away the hat that came first. The glasses came second, so they would have to go!
• Your favorite holiday destination: My house
• Given a chance, is there anything that you’d like to change in your cricket journey? I shouldn’t have give my wicket away on 94 in my first test innings but it was my highest first class score at the time so that was due to not being patient enough, that’s my only annoying regret as I would have been the first England keeper ever to make a 100 on test debut. Matt Prior did it eventually at Lord’s a few years later

Sandy: A piece of advice that you’d like to give the upcoming wicket-keeping batsmen who are vying to represent their country in cricket?

Jack: Dedicate yourself and don’t leave any stone unturned in your preparation. Relax as much as possible and learn the art of intense concentration.

Editor’s note: It was my pleasure in getting to interact with the legend, Jack Russell. Being a cricketer myself, who had represented Under-15 for my city, zone and state it was a memorable experience in bringing out Jack Sir’s journey. I grew up watching him play and do impeccably well for England and I would definitely grow older taking inspiration from his words and experiences. Wishing Jack Russell a healthy and an energetic life ahead!

Interview by Sandy (Sandeep Rao)

Follow Sandy @blabwithsandy

Follow Jack Russell MBE @jackrussellart