The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : I have a long way to go: Sreesanth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007
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I have a long way to go: Sreesanth

Principal Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After his fairytale series against South Africa, Test cricketer S. Sreesanth was trying to be as levelheaded as possible. Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, Sreesanth said he was not ready to rest on his laurels. "I cannot sit back and relax. I have to work with more intensity and I am still learning and have a long way to go," he said.

Obviously enjoying the limelight and his new-found celebrity status, Sreesanth said it was a great honour for him to be felicitated by the Kerala Government. "I am the first cricketer to be honoured by the State Government. It is really nice and it will inspire more cricketers from Kerala to do well," he said.

Sreesanth, whose bowling has been a revelation in South Africa, attributes his success to the help he received from his teammates. He also said the tips he received from South African bowling great Allan Donald was helpful in reading the mind of the batsmen through their stance.

"He was very impressed with my seam position. He asked me to land the ball at the right areas," the Test cricketer said.

On his wonderful seam position, Sreesanth said it was God's gift.

"I don't think that there was a marked difference in the seam position in this tour from the previous ones. I always had that ability and it comes naturally. At the MRF academy, both Lillee sir and Sekhar sir made me do a lot of bowling with the seam in upright position. I guess it is also because I always carry a ball and fiddle with it," he said.

Terming Jacques Kallis as the best South African batsman, Sreesanth said he was very intimidating and probably had the best technique. "However, on the final day when I was reverse swinging the ball and beat him a couple of times, he nodded and said well bowled Sree. Though I didn't pick up any wickets it was a great compliment from a great player," the fast bowler said.

Sreesanth said he was very much focussed on his game which he feels needs a lot of improvement.

"I am still learning and I want to improve my batting," he said. Sreesanth said his burning desire was to salute the Indian tri-colour after the World Cup final at Barbados. "To be honest it is my dream," he said.

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