Being a spin bowler means you’ve got to have a bit of magic in your arm.

In the space of one delivery so much had changed. My confidence was sky-high. I was pumped up and rock’n’rolling.

In cricket, you’ve got to have a bit of flair and a bit of character.

I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, I’m actually very, very healthy and I’m happy.

The key to a successful career is not just talent but also hard work and dedication.

I’ve had many ups and downs, but the love for the game kept me going.

Every time you step onto the field, you’ve got to think that you’re going to take a wicket.

I have a responsibility to my children to be fit and healthy.

The IPL is just pure, intense. You don’t need all the other stuff. I don’t believe in coaches in international cricket.

I’ve always said that the best bowlers are the ones who can adapt their game.

It was bloody difficult getting followed around all the time.

My life was falling apart and then to come out and play and have my best ever – 40 wickets, 250 runs… But the only reason I could do that was because of the way I thought and I think I’m pretty strong mentally. I think I am anyway, pretty strong to get over whatever it is.

You have to be prepared to fail to succeed in cricket.

I have been trying to lose weight for the last two-three months and it has gone really well. In the last 6-12 months I have been in the best form in quite a while.

The public want to see people play an exciting brand of cricket.

The wickets I have played on for my whole career, most of them have been to suit fast bowlers in Australia.

I can 100 percent tell you that I have not gone under the surgeon’s knife or had a facelift.

I am no dummy, mate, that’s for sure.

I don’t think I was ever the best bowler in the world, but I always gave my best.

Cricket is a great leveler. One moment you’re on top of the world, the next you’re not.

Being in love with somebody is a wonderful feeling.

Rahul Dravid being known as ‘The Wall’ is pretty much spot on. ‘The fortress’ could also describe Rahul. Because once, Dravid was set, you needed the bowling equivalent of a dozen cannon firing all at once to blast him down.

I still eat pizzas, I still like pies, I still have spaghetti hoops for breakfast… but it’s in moderation now.

I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in cricket, as once I didn’t think I was good enough.

One of the most important things in cricket is to always believe you can take wickets.

I think we have got the wood on South Africa, but that does not mean they are not a good team. They intimidate a lot of teams but we intimidate them. There is no disrespect for South Africa; they are a very good team.

I’ll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don’t think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar. He is just an amazing player.

Find a way to get back in to the game, find a way to build a partnership, find a way to catch a ball, find a way to stop it.

If you ask anyone around the cricket grounds, they will say I always sign loads of autographs and thank the ladies for lunch and try to behave in the right way.

I always loved the challenge of trying to get the best players out.

When I turned 36 I realised – the likelihood is that in four years time I’ll be 40.

There are a lot more tabloids in England that like to report other things in your life, some of which are true and some of which are exaggerated and untrue. There have been stories where people claim to have seen me in one place and I wasnt even in that city then. The Aussie press is more judgmental and moralistic.

Sachin Tendulkar is in my time the best player without doubt – daylight second, Brian Lara third.

To me, cricket is a simple game. Keep it simple and just go out and play.

When you’re playing against a team that is on top, you have to lift your game.

We played well in Kenya. We didn’t lose a game and we bowled Pakistan out for 100 twice. We don’t need to change much from that for this tournament.

I have always tried to move on from disappointments as fast as I can.

Part of the art of bowling spin is to make the batsman think something special is happening when it isn’t.

All my coaches tell me that I have been under achieving.

The key to being a great spin bowler is having the ability to bowl with a lot of variations.

With Australians we’re saying we’re going to win before we start playing and pretty much keep on saying that.

You can’t afford to live your life with regrets.

Never give up; just absolutely never give up.

The first thing is to be patient, which is probably the hardest thing to do. Don’t worry if blokes are whacking you out of the park because you still have the opportunity to get him out next ball, even if it’s not the same ball.