James Franklin is playing for the Barbados Tridents at the Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014. The left-handed all-rounder comes into a new T20 setup and looks to pass on his experience to some of the younger players. Nishad Pai Vaidya caught up with Franklin and spoke to him about his game and the other challenges of T20 cricket.
In the early 2000s, James Franklin made his international debut as a fiery left-arm seamer with great promise. Though he did show glimpses of talent with the bat, he was mainly considered a seam bowler who got the breakthroughs for his side. However, a decade later, he is dependable batsman who also rolls his arm over — becoming a pivotal asset for numerous sides around the world, the latest being the Barbados Tridents at the Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014.
“I actually got injured after the 2007 World Cup and struggled with a bad knee. So, (during recovery), I was able to work on my batting then. From then on, it has mainly been batting and I still like to bowl. T20 cricket has suited the way I play,” said Franklin as he gelled into the Barbados side. “I played for a different side in the CPL (Caribbean Premier League) and have an appreciation for Caribbean cricket. I have played cricket in different parts of the world, which includes the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the CLT20. If I can play a role and help the youngsters from my experience, we can do well as a group,” he said.
Franklin was reasonably successful for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and made a mark with the bat. Not only did he show prowess in the middle, but also had a few good hits while opening the batting. “It (opening the batting in T20) is extremely exciting and is the best place to bat in T20 cricket. You have a chance to play yourself in and then be aggressive. If you keep scoring then, you can also increase the pace. In the middle order, one has to play according to the situation,” he says.
In the first game against Kings XI Punjab, Franklin batted in the middle. It seems to be a spot where he tends to bring in calm and has the ability to finish games. Franklin says that assessment of all the factors is pivotal in getting the results while batting in the middle. “You can assess the conditions, the situation in the middle, the teams and how the bowlers are bowling. Also, you have to try to be calm. You have more time than you think. Many can hit it from the first ball, but sometimes, you don’t have to as you may be required to be calm. If you can remain calm and give yourself a little bit of time, you can create opportunities,” says Franklin.
Over the years, Franklin has gone to different countries and hones his skills for various units. Adjusting can be a challenge as one not only has to blend on the cricket field but also settle into the mindset of the team. “That is an initial challenge when you get into a new team. You need a new role in the setup. At Barbados, I know my role and what the management wants from me. I can adapt quickly,” says Franklin.
Barbados have a very different side when compared to the one that played the final of the CPL and lifted the tournament. They are without their biggest draws in Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith and Shoaib Malik, who decided to play for other sides. “The underdog tag is appropriate. I don’t think there are too many who believe we can win. But, T20 is a funny game and we have some good players, and a group of youngsters who can win games for us,” Franklin says.
Franklin is no stranger to this task. Back in 2011, he was a part of the Mumbai Indians side without the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and Munaf Patel. Yet, Harbhajan Singh led the side to a remarkable victory in the CLT20. “That shows that even when a team isn’t at full strength, it provides a chance to the younger players,” Franklin says. Barbados would hope to emulate the Mumbai Indians and would pick Franklin’s brain to draw inspiration from that journey.
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