In my mind, the home run is paramount because it means instant runs.
We've got to be good enough to put runs on board.
I always want to be known as a good Test cricketer. I believe I have the ability to score big runs in the longer format. For that, I know I have to score heavily in whatever opportunities I get.
I think Rohit Sharma is an awesome player in all varieties of the game.
I don't think I ever worked harder at any match during my career to get runs as I did then, nor did I ever have to face in one game such consistently fast bowlers as the Australian pair, Gregory and McDonald.
I care about runs scored and RBIs. Those are the most important things for me.
Ask any batsman what gives him maximum satisfaction. It's scoring runs, whether it's Ranji Trophy or any form of the game. When you get back to your room, knowing that you have scored a hundred, it gives you satisfaction.
When I play a cover-drive, I play it to score runs.
Well, stealing bases adds some runs but very few, and you lose most of the runs that you gain by having runners caught stealing.
I've known Nick Compton a long time. He's a fully-formed cricketer and he's scored lots of runs.
Sometimes I need to look at the scoreboard to figure out whether I'm batting hundred-plus or whether I am on zero.
It's runs for batsmen which is the criteria for selection and similarly, it is wickets for bowlers which are important.
I have always believed that against smaller teams is when you can give others a chance to get some runs and gain some confidence.
How are you gonna score if somebody doesn't drive in the runs?
To have a week off in the middle of the season feels like a lot longer I think, so I feel really good. Hopefully I can go out there and get some runs.
You've got to believe in yourself that you will get the runs for your team.
Does it make a difference if I score 8000 or 10,000 runs in Test cricket? Not in anybody's life.
But eventually it is a game of cricket.
To me, form is not about scoring runs but how you feel about your game. Sometimes the runs are not there, but you know you are batting well, and that is good form for me.
English conditions have changed over the years. Lots of runs are being scored in one-day cricket now in England, pitches are good for batting.
I have always liked to attack the bowlers, and batting is all about getting runs.
I made tons of runs and got an opportunity to play for Mumbai. Suddenly, people knew who I was, and the cameras were on me. Getting the recognition matters when you are playing school cricket.
To me the most important thing was stirring things up and scoring some runs so we could win a ballgame.
I try to make runs, keep the scoreboard moving. That keeps my confidence up.
I want to keep scoring runs consistently.
