The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Sreesanth wears his heart on his sleeve

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Sreesanth wears his heart on his sleeve

Stan Rayan

The youngster plans to spend a couple of days at MRF Pace Foundation

KOCHI: He is a young man who puts his everything into every ball, one who tries to send down a wicket-grabbing delivery every time. He often pushes himself to the limit and keeps talking to himself, pepping himself up.

S. Sreesanth sure makes an interesting study.

When things work his way, you can see him jump and dance with joy, even go bonkers sometimes. And when they don't, he flinches in pain and almost becomes harsh with his inner self.

It's nice to see young men wear their heart on their sleeve. In a world where people on the big stage often walk around with a mask, it's sheer joy to watch young men display emotions as they come. Sreesanth, the `Kerala Express', is one such character.

But now, with the World Cup just about a month away for the country, Sreesanth has decided to tone down things a bit. Instead of attacking with every delivery, he has decided to keep things simple.

Lara's advice

"That's what Brian Lara told me when we had breakfast together one day. He said one-day cricket is simple for a fast bowler. You just stick to the basics. For batsmen, it's different," said Sreesanth as he returned home on Saturday night, the joy after the series triumph against Sri Lanka still fresh on his face.

Now, as he chases his Caribbean dream, his young career's biggest championship, Sreesanth has decided to go by Lara's theme. To stick to the virtues of line and length, to hold the restless horses on a tight leash, with control being the crucial key on the possibly slow wickets in the West Indies.

So is the Sreesanth of old, the aggressive paceman who brings in a rich variety with his deliveries and colour to cricket, comfortable with the new Sreesanth, who is planning to cut off much of the fanciful stuff? Is there a clash of characters? How much of a problem is it adjusting to one another?

The young man laughed.

"I don't know. I just want to keep myself calm. Still, we don't make major changes, just a little bit of working on technique," said the 24-year-old.

Two months ago, after India's maiden away Test triumph against South Africa in Johannesburg, he was hailed as one of the biggest finds in recent years.

With Dennis Lillee now in Chennai, Sreesanth plans to spend a couple of days at the MRF Pace Foundation to fine-tune his act.

On asked how is the Indian team, he said: "It's the best team right now. It's a great opportunity for everyone and we are the favourites. Next comes Australia. If we reach the semifinals, it can be anybody's game. Till then it will be hard work."

The players have been given a schedule to follow till the team leaves for the World Cup, on February 28. "Individually too, we analyse ourselves frequently, even during games since all of us carry laptops. We just watch the good balls."

And how is life in the World Cup's pressure cooker? "Pressure brings out the best in any cricketer."

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

Sport