Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Sreesanth bowls children over

Staff Reporter

150 children attend Balasahitya Institute's summer camp

INSPIRATIONAL: Cricketer Sreesanth and Education Minister M.A. Baby at a summer camp for schoolchildren organised by the Balasahitya Institute, in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. — Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: My first ambition in life was to become a collector. Then one-day when I saw a plane whizzing over the skies I wanted to become a pilot. Today had I not been a cricketer, I would have become a `good' choreographer, responded speedster Santhakumaran Sreesanth to a query from a young enthusiastic participant at a summer camp for children organised by the State Balasahitya Institute in the city on Tuesday.

The cricketer, who arrived at the camp along with his brother Deepusanth, bowled the children over with his clever and quick-witted answers even as he parried off controversial ones regarding Greg Chappell.

Predictably, Sreesanth began his interaction with an apology for team India's dismal performance at the World Cup. "We are really sorry for having disappointed the fans. We gave our best. It was just three bad days. Cricket does not end with the world cup," he said.

The cricketer said he felt `very proud of being a Malayalee,' when he belted South African paceman Andrew Nel's delivery for a six and danced down the pitch swinging his bat during the India - South Africa Test series in Johannesburg last year.

"Nel was bullying me verbally throughout the match. The moment I came to the crease for batting he provoked me saying that he could smell blood. He was trying to psyche me out with his aggression. I enjoyed the moment when I hit him for six," said Sreesanth.

Expressing his preference for Test cricket over one-day, Sreesanth identified `patience' as the biggest quality required for a cricketer.

A cricketer should always be willing to learn from others. You also need to have the right attitude and work hard with single-minded dedication.

An assistant manager with Bharat Petroleum, Sreesanth said he was not disappointed that he did not get an opportunity to play in a world cup match. "I am patient enough to wait for my opportunity," he said.

The cricketer said it was a dream-come-true for him to play an international match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, his hometown. "It was an amazing feeling to play there except for the heat."

Sreesanth who regards Allan Donald, the former South African pace man as his favourite bowler, said, the greatest recognition he received, as a cricketer was when the Australian bowling legend Dennis Lillee likened his action to that of his at the MRF pace foundation.

The function was presided over by Education Minister M.A. Baby. Around 150 children from various city schools attended the camp.

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