Guwahati, March 18 :    Guwahati, March 18:  Earlier this season, the Zimbabwe Cricket Union thought it fit to discipline former captain Alistair Campbell. In the past fortnight, though, the senior pro has played a leading role in Zimbabwe's more-than-spirited show in the one-day series. Pretty reserved generally, Campbell did make an exception and spoke at length to The Telegraph. The questions were answered candidly and, often, with emotion. The following are excerpts On ten years of international cricket It's been a long road... Some good times, bad times... But, I suppose, it's the same with all pro sport. I've enjoyed myself... Indeed, it's rare to be paid for a job you really enjoy! However, I accept I haven't realised everything I could have in Test cricket... Hopefully, I've got five-six years left and can reach the goals I want to. Thereafter, I'll be able to look back and say I began well, slipped but, then, picked myself up to be counted among the best. On Zimbabwe not exactly being competitive in recent times, specially in Test cricket Look, every nation goes through a phase of rebuilding, reorganising its cricket. Zimbabwe, obviously, can't be an exception but I agree it's been disappointing as we've always regarded ourselves as being competitive. It's a situation which needs to and is being addressed. I mean, ten years ago, we were expected to lose. With sponsors coming in, an academy being established and... Today, then, the expectation level is very different. I believe we need to learn from Sri Lanka, the way they handled the integration of the younger players. In any case, we need to set goals and achieve them. On the rather eventful past few months - being dropped as a disciplinary measure and, then, recalled for this India tour Yeah, I've gone through some tough times... I got misquoted by the tabloids in England, during that country's tour of Zimbabwe and... It was deemed I made racist comments and was called for a hearing before two Supreme Court judges... Once found guilty, I was taken off international cricket. However, I used that forced break to good effect and complied plenty of runs outside the big league. It helped in my call-up for this trip. Was it easy accepting the changed circumstances, brief though it was? No... It came as a huge blow. I wasn't angry, but felt deflated (on being labelled a racist). But, as I've just told you, I didn't waste time. I've always maintained if one door closes, you've got to open some other door. I did just that, and it reflects my positive nature. Of course, yes, I learnt I'm a cricketer, not a politician. (Adds grinning) Had I not been omitted, I would have missed the birth of my third son (Matthew). So, I also did get some time with the family. On the lessons learnt after a decade in the big league Looking back, you can see yourself in other people... For instance, in the youngsters who begin to make a mark... Carefree, no restraints and no inhibitions either. You sort of identify with them... Yet, time moves on and, ten years down the road, you obviously aren't the same cricketer. It's different on a personal level as well... The entire period has been a huge learning experience and, whenever I can, I do tell youngsters not to make the mistakes I myself did. If I may add, cricket is an extravagant metaphor for life. On the players who have influenced him Javed Miandad and Andy Flower. Though Miandad was nearing the end of his career, I think I was fortunate to have played against him and seen him from such close quarters. I remember getting fifty-odd on a green top in Rawalpindi, back in the early Nineties, and being congratulated by Miandad. That gesture meant a lot. It's when I recall such instances that my own emotions over what I've actually achieved in Test cricket (an average of under-30 in 58 appearances, two hundreds) is mixed... On his role model Andy... I don't have to look any further. His achievements, as I've already declared, have been exceptional and I do regard him a phenomenon. Seeing him I realise I haven't myself been as dedicated... Haven't worked as hard as Andy, haven't been as mentally tough as him. But, yes, I'm getting my act right and am sorting things out. I know I've been reasonably consistent in the ODIs (over 5,000 runs with seven hundreds) and it's now a question of being just that in Test cricket. On whether the early expectations weighed him down It's different when you're doing something and nobody really takes note or, at best, you are dismissed as being run-of-the-mill. With me, though, it was different. People did have expectations from Alistair Campbell and... Nothing is set in stone and nothing in life is guaranteed, but if the simple things are consistently done well then I could, over the next five-six years, score the volume of runs I should have been doing throughout my career. On whether the captaincy came too early for him (in mid-1996) Perhaps, yes... I was 24 then and while it's not exactly an age when one is just out of the nappies, I don't think the infrastructure was in place (in Zimbabwe) and everybody was still learning... It's fine seeking to be competitive and being very fit, but you've still got to have quality batters and bowlers... The availability of Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson did, I accept, make a difference and we began preparing for the 1999 World Cup. Making the Super-Six was an ambition and, as it turned out, we did... Indeed, at that point in time it appeared Zimbabwe cricket could only go forward. Yet, not much later, performances began to dip for a number of reasons. On why he quit as captain Looking back, I was probably a bit harsh on myself, but a time had come when I stopped enjoying the captaincy. A bit of frustration crept in, my own batting got affected... I then thought I wasn't doing enough as a batsman and, so, was denying somebody the opportunity of playing... Giving a team-speech, going for nets, interacting with the Media... It all became a chore. That's when I had a discussion with my wife (Adrienne) - because my personal life was also getting affected - and decided to relinquish the captaincy. I still remember what Andy told me: 'You've done well and, the next time you lead, you will be a better captain.' On whether, if offered, he will again accept the top job (Smiles) In the right conditions, yes. Frankly, it will have to be on my terms and I strongly believe there shouldn't be outside interferences. Clearly, you've got to be your own man. After all, it's the captain who is held accountable not the rest. Your head is in your own hands, as it were. Believe me, it's tough captaining a side which doesn't win often enough. It drains you when the bottomline doesn't show that whatever you're trying is working. This could be one reason for the big turnover of captains in Zimbabwe. On whether it's easy for a captain to overnight enter the dressing room as just an ordinary player There definitely is an adjustment period and the emotions are different... Fortunately, Andy - who succeeded me - and I think alike and, so, there wasn't any problem. Ideally, a captain should do the job for three years and, then, take a break. On Zimbabwe getting Geoff Marsh on board as coach Couldn't have had somebody better to try and resurrect our fortunes. His understanding of the game, his work-ethic... It's brilliant. Provided he is given the right personnel to work with, we should become consistently competitive. Finally, on getting only one fifty in the two-Test series but posting fifty-plus scores in each of the first three ODIs (After a pause) Well, I should have got one hundred in the Tests... As for the ODIs, tomorrow is a big game and I'll be happy if my contribution helps Zimbabwe win this series.