Shalabh Srivastava

Shalab Sriwastava is one of a breed rarely sighted in the Indian sub-continent - left arm medium pacer. A tall lad who generates most of his pace from a high arm action, Sriwastava opened the bowling for the Indians in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka with great success. Bowling from close to the stumps, Sriwastava relies on nagging accuracy more than pace to pick up his wickets. He possesses the ability to move the new ball both off the wicket and in the air. Keeping the ball full, Sriwastava always makes the batsmen play. This has gone against him on occasion when he has returned to the attack to bowl with the old ball. Though his accuracy will always hold him in good stead, Sriwastava needs to develop variations, specifically a good yorker and a deceptive slower delivery before he can become a force to reckon with at the highest level. That he topped the wicket taker's list (14 wickets at 17.57 apiece) for India in the Under-19 World Cup says quite a bit, for the tournament was played on slow, turning tracks. Playing for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, Sriwastava should soon be knocking on the doors of national selection. (Anand Vasu)