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Sri Lanka in India 2009-10
'A new beginning for me'
Sreesanth's selection in the Indian squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka is based more on his ability than recent performance
Sriram Veera
November 10, 2009
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Conventional wisdom suggests this is Sreesanth's last chance to set right a stop-start career: one slip here and he might fade back to the sidelines. It's an assessment Sreesanth is aware of and agrees with - and, crucially, says he is acting on. "I would like to say sorry to people who have believed and supported me earlier but who feel I have let them down with my stuff," he told Cricinfo. "All I want from people is to have faith in me.
"I know I am tagged with lots of negative publicity. But I am what I am. All I can assure every cricket follower in India is that when it comes to playing and preparation, I am as disciplined and dedicated as anyone else. This is a new beginning for me and my best years are ahead of me."
In many ways, though, this is a selection by default. Tired of his antics, India have tried to look beyond Sreesanth but the likes of RP Singh and Munaf Patel haven't managed to perform consistently and secure their place. He hasn't been outstanding or match-winning of late but he has turned in several good spells that have impressed the likes of Allan Donald. It's a selection based on what he can do rather than what he has done.
His past, though, seems to have caught up with him. Other bowlers get away with the stares and the sledging but Sreesanth knows he will be on trial forever. "Yes I can see why it's happening… My past. I guess I will just have to take it in the right spirit and use this opportunity to start afresh. I'm sure I won't cross the thin line between professionalism and foolery."
Crossing that line has really hurt him; while Sreesanth the bowler is respected, Sreesanth the man is seen in different light, even by his fellow cricketers. During the second IPL season, he was mocked by some players after Dwayne Bravo hit him for 21 runs in an over. That really shook him up. "I thank Bravo for hitting me," he told this writer a few days later. "During the strategy break I could see players in the dug-out laughing at me. I'd stopped doing my regular stuff like touching the ground before entering the field and pumping my fists when on top of the bowling mark. I thought people would ridicule me, I had become too conscious of whatever I did. But that night when I went to bed I decided I can't be someone else… I can't live a different life."
That dug-out incident saved Sreesanth from suffocating himself. The routine returned - the signature self-exhortations, the rituals, the celebrations - but less frequent. At last month's Irani Trophy game - where he was the best bowler on view, cutting the ball both ways - his signature traits were visible only when he wanted to psyche himself up.
Walking that thin line will be Sreesanth's biggest test. Will he be able to free himself up? Will he be able to forget what others think of him? Will he be able to concentrate on just his bowling? Most importantly, will he be able to resist the baiting from the crowd?
In some ways, his relationship with the crowd has been his biggest downfall. That retaliatory dance against Andre Nel in Johannesburg was the beginning of his slide; the crowd seemed to love his "character", the media played it up and Sreesanth got carried away. He started to try to live up to the myth and bridge the gap between reality and media projection. Donald hit the nail on the head when he said that Sreesanth was a "little kitten off the field" and his on-field demeanor was frustrating because "it is not the real him. It is false in the way he conducts himself."
There are some good signs, though. In the Irani Trophy, the crowd routinely tried baiting him, seeking a glimpse of the old Sreesanth, but he resisted. Only on couple of occasions he indulged them with a wave and a disarming smile. However, he was dragged into an altercation by Dhawal Kulkarni and though Sreesanth maintains he didn't use any abusive words, he was fined 60% of his match fee. "The Irani Trophy was just a one-off incident," Sreesanth says. "I didn't abuse. It went really wrong and I have put it behind me. Now, I am only worried about cricket."
What about his cricket? Donald felt that there was just one area, technically, which is letting down Sreesanth currently. "He has got a slight technical glitch where he sits back and doesn't really use his front arm well, which makes him swing the ball a bit early." Sreesanth says he read Donald's views and has been working hard to get the front arm kicking into his action more. "I have been training hard and doing lots of visualizations."
The hunger and desire is there. "It has been a rough break for 19 months. The first nine months were fine as I was recovering from injury but the next ten months were really frustrating. There were lots of controversies and I would like to thank all the people who have supported me. I really hope that I make use of this opportunity. I would like to take wickets, help India win matches and grab my spot in the team."
He's done the third part; if he can do the first, the second should follow.
Sriram Veera is a staff writer at Cricinfo
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© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Welcome back Sree. I have never seen an Indian fast bowler bowling like you did in South Africa. You have everything needed to be an Indian great. I agree with you, you can't be somebody else and you have to be you. We love seeing you bowl and do some of your so called antics as well. My only advice is, always make sure that success, failure or the cunningness of the opposition doesn't affect your head. Let the emotions flow, if need be. But, don't let people exploit your emotional personality.
Posted by ohare on (November 13 2009, 11:23 AM GMT)Hopefully Sree will be better this time, given this is possibly his last chance. I guess Sree got lucky, because his recall has been driven due to various circumstances. Nehra needs a break (though he is at his peak) and Munaf has not been consistent. Ishant has been slipping away as well. It is unfortunate that India has a bench strength in bowling but no quality. How Australia performed with all their young bowlers, who had never played many international matches, makes me amazed and dazed. Hats-off to the aussies, they are the BEST, truly. Hope Sree can cement his place in the team.
Posted by Geff on (November 13 2009, 06:47 AM GMT)WELCOME BACK SREE, Good luck. I remember on the tour of SA '07, in J'borg where India won their first test on SA soil, Sunny Gavaskar commented after Kapil Dev, Dennis Lillie there's Sreesanth who can Seam up the ball right upfront. There are pros/cons in his careers, but unforunately he cons have been highlighted more. He is force to reckon with for Dhoni in new ball bowling options. Cheekha has made a right decision in bringing Sree, but was disappointed for Nehra's exclusion, who was in his full swing. M Vijay and Badri both was a surprise inclusion, i thought they would pick either one of them, may be so called "ZONE" ism came into play. Interesting series ahead, will INDIA hold thier nerves. need to wait n watch.
Posted by arun_39 on (November 12 2009, 09:04 AM GMT)As the article states, Sreesanth's selection is to a certain extent by default. Let us not confuse ability/performance in one form of the game to mean a qualification for another. Praveen is fit for limited obvers cricket with his pace. If one looks at overall performance in tests, most recent performances in Tests and current form in a domestic tournament then Sreesanth qualifies above all others. Munaf has been more erratic in performance (and fielding) than Sreesanth has. Nehra last played on the 2004 Pak tour and his test performance is not good. RP Singh doesn't even make the shortlist in Tests. Since the idea is to have a pool of pace bowlers with past experience so that we can draw the best discounting for injury, temperament and form I believe the names discussed here form such a pool. Haven't seen a comparably outstanding talent outside of this pool to warrant taking a chance against quality opposition. Therefore Zaheer, Sreesanth and Ishant are the starting line-up for Tests
Posted by Romeo248 on (November 12 2009, 00:00 AM GMT)This is uspolutely ridicuous comments about Sreesanth..He cant control his nevers but other than that No one can compalint about hus bowling..He is such a good bowler..He has been gifted with a lot of talents...hes not using it much..If he can control his nerves and bwl well he will be the top bowler wit few years...he has all the skills to be..he should be into cricket rathe than dance...good luck sree..this is you last and final chance i guess...All the other bowlers sledge and did it even worse but they get away with it...but sree your opposition is trying to get you in trouble because they know you will be one of the best bowlers india have seen..All the best..
Posted by boris6491 on (November 11 2009, 14:04 PM GMT)What I fail to understand is how Sreesanth has gotten this berth. He bowled averagely for Warwickshire in conditions conducive to his bowling and hasn't been considerably better in Ranji cricket either. His attitude and demeanor convey unprofessionalism of the highest level. He commands disrespect from not only his opposition, but his teammates as well. On what grounds has he been selected? Promise? Surely there are other young quicks waiting in the ranks to get a berth. India need to move on and give these youngsters a chance. As much as the Australians may not have that aura, they are still beginning to give more youngsters opportunities to shine and more players exposure at the international level helping them to unearth international talent. By going around in circles, India will never do that. The likes of Sreesanth and Munaf Patel are things of the past, it is time to pursue other options now. Sreesanth may be a skillful bowler, But I really do not feel he has earned his spot.
Posted by Nipun on (November 11 2009, 13:51 PM GMT)Sreesanth is back ??? WOW-I really like it.Can't wait for the series to start.After all,which fool will want to miss the hilarious entertainment brought by Sreesanth ???
Posted by Dronaa on (November 11 2009, 12:48 PM GMT)ShantaKumar Sreesanth is nothing that his name sugggests. Hes neither Shant(calm) , nor a Kumar ( a teenager), nor Sree(respected) and least of all not a Santh(saint). He's someone who is more used to play-acting rather than playing cricket. He bowls well, i.e. when he doesnt involve in histrionics. Even when a batsman has clobbered him (short of actually escorting 'him' out of the ground), after dismissing him, SS will glare as if he has dismissed him first ball. He's probably the most over-rated cricketer even by his own standards. Surprising that after spending so much time with seniors like Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly, SS has not learnt a little bit of humility. And one wonders what the KCA saw in him to appoint him as the captain of their side. And one wonders what he has done to earn a recall ( other than bullying the likes of Ramesh Powar and Dhawal Kulkarni). Sressanth, please grow up. I liked your bowling, till you stopped bowling and indulged in your antics.
Posted by gogul5 on (November 11 2009, 12:04 PM GMT)yes sreesanth is a character.but we should back him for his talent.he is a bowler who can swing and move the ball both ways.iam not surprised of ishant selection.if the selectors dont pick these bowlers then whom to pick.munaf patel got his place against england for his sheer pace,but what seems to be very clear is he is "120-125km"bowler.our dada can bowl that,yes he is accurate with his length but question is can he bowl lot of overs,answer is definitely not.in our placid tracks munaf is not an option.he also brings his own laziness to the field,sreesanth is a charged person raring to go,what we need is somebody in our team to act like strict father telling what is what!rp singh lost his pace and accuracy as we all know!the problem to all our fast bowlers is losing 10 to 15 kmph after a single sesson.i back sree to do well for india and by the way to himself otherwise......
Posted by vicky_mohan on (November 11 2009, 10:49 AM GMT)Welcome back to the national team Sree!! This place has been long in the reckoning!!! I am no great person, to advise u on how to be and how not to be. Just a small request. We have loved watching u play, and hope u do all it takes to continue giving us the pleasure!! Go buddy!! Rock the lankans!!