The Hindu : Sport : When Srinath lived a dream

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

Sport

Sport

When Srinath lived a dream

By S. Dinakar

DREAM SPELL: Javagal Srinath in action during the spell that rocked South Africa in Ahmedabad. - Photo: V.V. Krishnan.

CHENNAI, NOV. 16. On the dustbowl of the Motera Stadium, Javagal Srinath lived a dream. The spinners were expected to script the great escape for India on a pitch that was crumbling. But it was under a paceman's fury that the Proteas crumbled.

Srinath would forever remember the November of 1996. South Africa's first ever Test on the Indian soil was on the boil. And it was the Karnataka paceman who delivered the lethal blows at the business end of a pulsating contest in Ahmedabad.

It had been a gripping low-scoring duel, with unexpected turnarounds. It was also a match that must go down in history as the most engaging of all India-South Africa Tests so far.

Electing to bat, the Sachin Tendulkar-led India, stung by a fiery Allan Donald (four for 37), finished on an unsatisfactory 223, with the skipper's 42 being the highest contribution. The Proteas now had the opportunity to take a vice-like grip on the tussle.

On the second day of the first Test, the South Africans found themselves in a bigger mess. Hansie Cronje's men were reeling at 119 for seven, and India, well served by Sunil Joshi's left-arm spin, had come roaring back into the Test.

Spirited resistance

Here, the match witnessed another twist. Spirited resistance from lower-order batsmen, Pat Symcox (32) and Fanie de Villers (67), enabled the visitors to grab a 21-run lead. Given that the South Africans would be batting last on a deteriorating pitch, the Indians still held the edge.

The Test changed stripes again with the Indian batting undone by the pace-spin combination of Donald and Paul Adams. Despite V.V.S. Laxman's stylish 51, the host was bundled out for 190. A target of 170, even on a testing surface, appeared gettable for South Africa.

Enter Srinath. In the first innings, he had operated splendidly but without luck, with two for 47 off 19.1 impressive overs. The Mysore Express had reserved his best for the final stretch. Breathing fire — it was during this phase of his career that Srinath bowled at his quickest — the paceman sent the Proteas on the fast route to disaster in an incisive opening burst, winning a leg-before decision against Andrew Hudson, and then having Darryl Cullinan caught behind. Both these stalwarts had not opened their account.

Classic example

In a classic example of a bowler striking during all the stages of an innings, Srinath, pitching the ball up, sending down his off-cutters with deadly precision, and straightening the odd delivery, poached Jonty Rhodes and Dave Richardson in the middle order, before blasting through the defences of tailenders Donald and Adams to signal the host's memorable 64-run victory. Figures of 11.5-4-21-6 tell the tale of destruction on an afternoon of glory for Srinath. India went on to clinch the series 2-1.

When Srinath embarked on that historic journey to South Africa in 1992 — it was India that South Africa met in its first Test series after return to the international cricket — he was under the shadow of the legendary Kapil Dev.

In Ahmedabad, he bowled with rare passion, celebrated every strike as never before, and left his stamp as a match-winner for India — a role he had dreamt of when he began his cricketing journey.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport