He has not been all that lucky

WHAT MAKES a fast bowler, asks Allan Donald in his autobiography `White Lightning' and goes ahead to provide the answer: ``A lot of determination, a high pain threshold, sympathetic coaching and luck.''

Javagal Srinath may like to agree with Donald's observations but with one exception. The South African great confesses he has had luck favouring him, something which the Indian has sorely missed all the way. Sitting out when at peak, bowling on least responsive tracks, beating the bat or finding the edges only to see catches spilled. It has been a hard grind for this gentle fast bowler, who believes aggression is not in sledging or hurting a batsman but in claiming his wicket.

For a man so gifted, Srinath shall remain a disappointment mainly for his failure to get the best out of himself. Let me share what Simon Hughes, former Middlesex medium-pacer and now a reputed journalist, had to say of Srinath. ``If I had half his talent, I would have achieved so much more than what he has'' was Simon's candid comment as he watched the Indian in action at Edgbaston in the World Cup game against England.

When you assess Srinath's career, you end up with this feeling that his has been a colossal waste of talent. For various reasons, this Karnataka speedster, who arrived on the scene with a bang as a tearaway quickie, could not achieve his potential and that shall rankle his wellwishers and fans.

In a system where aggression is often misunderstood, Srinath grew up in the shadows of Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar, often struggling to gain an opportunity to showcase his abilities. There were times when he watched from the dressing room a contest of which he ought to have been a key figure as far as India's attack was concerned.

Let us go back eight years when India was on tour of South Africa. On the eve of the third Test at Port Elizabeth, when even the layman knew what a lively strip it was for the fast bowlers, we gathered that India had picked just Kapil and Prabhakar and there was no room for Srinath. The South African captain Kepler Wessels was stunned. ``You must be kidding'' he reacted when told that India had excluded Srinath.

On a pitch which saw Donald finish with 12 wickets, India chose to go in with just two seamers. Srinath got a chance in the next Test at Cape Town, bowled with fire, and made a big impact on the South Aricans who privately thanked their stars that they did not have to face this speedster on the responsive St. George's Park pitch. Incidentally, the Indian team on that tour included five new ball bowlers simply because of the nature of pitches in South Africa - hard and bouncy - but Srinath did not bowl on the best of them.It is true that during his early years, Srinath was made to watch more than play in a Test. He was raring to go against the Englishmen in 1993 in the home series but again had to sit out in all the three Tests as coach Ajit Wadekar whipped up the spin magic. Srinath took it in his stride, not sulking even in private, as he admitted he learnt so much from watching the others.

Essentially, Srinath's progress was hampered by various team management's lack of faith in fast bowlers. Despite encouraging performances, he failed to win the confidence of the skipper and the coach until Sachin Tendulkar replaced Mohammed Azharuddin at the helm. It is another matter that critics observed Srinath was overbowled on many occasions during that phase.

Somehow Srinath carried the impression that he belonged to a tribe which was denied its due. It was true to a large extent. Long spells at the `nets' was what put off Srinath because he was expected to give his best the next day in the match. There were times when he would wonder if he had made the right choice by wanting to emulate Kapil than Prasanna or Chandrasekhar.

Breaking his back on placid tracks around the country, Srinath learnt slowly, and late too, that he must conserve energy. The frequent staging of one-day matches also took its toll on Srinath and one suspected he was not really enjoying his cricket. ``I was never disinterested'' he told this correspondent vehemently. He was hurt at some of the criticism that he was picking and choosing his assignments but like a determined man that he has been, Srinath kept himself in the reckoning through some inspired stuff.

Injuries hampered his progress and it was a difficult period for Srinath. Troubled by a painful shoulder and then knees, he stood at the crossroads of his career - should he continue to play one- day cricket or not. Better sense prevailed when he opted out of the madness of playing one-day cricket day in and day out. It was a decision made in the best interest of Indian cricket for the team could not afford to lose Srinath during this period of transition.

Srinath has been an enigma really. A treasure of talent, loads of determination, and a fierce desire to win matches for the team have not been able to bring him the kind of success one would have expected. He can never be accused of shirking because he has, for years, battled injuries and fatigue to give his best to the team. He may not have succeeded always but there can never be any doubt about his loyalty and sincerity in serving the team.

It is also true that Srinath missed Venkatesh Prasad at the other end when he was at his best. Fast bowlers hunt in pairs and the two Karnataka bowlers had tremendous understanding. They would complement each other but sadly Prasad was given a raw deal, never being allowed to settle down despite the fact that he was one of the craftiest bowlers for a long time.

A much under-rated bowler, as former Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga once told me, Srinath had reached a stage two seasons back where he was beginning to doubt his capabilities, because of lack of support from all quarters. The load was increasing and physically it was impossible to push himself to a point of breaking down. If he did not break down, it speaks for the man's fitness even though many have doubted this aspect of his strong character.

Length may not have been an asset but Srinath never compromised on his pace. His strength lay in bowling quick and he explored all the possibilities in a tight situation for gaining breakthroughs. The spell against South Africa at Ahmedabad was one memorable performance by Srinath as he destroyed the opposition with sheer speed. One would treasure the sight of Srinath pounding down the track and with his whipping action causing great discomfort to the batsmen. A perfect exhibition of fast bowling it was.

To develop his attitude, Srinath even turned a meat-eater from a strict vegetarian. He worked tirelessly on his fitness. He may not have possessed the physique of an Imran Khan or a Donald but in his own manner Srinath was quite effectively prepared. No captain can complain of Srinath ever saying no to a challenge.

For years, Srinath had just one grudge - there was little technical input from men who mattered to enable him reach his optimum potential. The lack of guidance was glaring because he struggled to analyse his bowling and rectify the shortcomings. Maybe Srinath had a valid point here but then he disappointed Kapil on the last tour to Australia by bowling short repeatedly. ``He is capable of much more'' Kapil would say.

In an international career which is now nine years old, it is a pity that Srinath is still looking for means to churn out his best and convince the team management and the selectors - his spells at an unkind Ferozeshah Kotla against Zimbabwe a telling proof. He gives himself a good two years of carefully planned cricket. One-day internationals are low on his priority and rightly too because it is Test cricket which has always mirrored his potential.

If one had to point one big flaw in his career, apart from great moments of disappointments as a bowler who was worth much more, it would remain his failure as a batsman. Srinath had the explosive power to belt the ball and devastate the attack but he never could do justice to his batting abilities, mainly because he was guilty of ignoring this area. He could have been a wonderful all-rounder but somewhere down the line Srinath showed distinct disinterest in his batting, a suggestion which the mild- mannered fast bowler emphatically disagrees with.

As a senior member of the team, Srinath, at 32, has plenty of responsibility on his shoulders. There is much for him to prove but as one looks back at his career, for his talent and for all his hard work on the field, Srinath, to most of us, comes off grossly unlucky, and an underachiever. For a long time we lamented the lack of fast bowlers in the country and when someone like Srinath came along, we failed to understand and harness him properly. No wonder, Donald spoke about luck in his autobiography.

VIJAY LOKAPALLY

New Delhi

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