The Hindu : Sport : Prasad takes a walk down memory lane

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Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Prasad takes a walk down memory lane

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

The bowling coach says that the young seamers are keen to do well

EXUDING CONFIDENCE: Venkatesh Prasad (centre) is hopeful of youngsters like S. Sreesanth (left) and R.P. Singh delivering the goods in the coming months.

Bangalore: In the confines of Lord’s, there is a board that displays the names of cricketers who have either scored a hundred or grabbed a five-wicket haul on that hallowed turf.

And this July, when the Indian team gears up for its first Test against England (July 19 to 23), one man amongst the coaching staff, will be peering hard at those boards.

“I have never been to Lord’s since 1996 and I am keen to see that board with my name on it,” says bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad. Life has come a full circle for him — from being a Test debutant at Birmingham in 1996 to his current role.

Memorable match

After making his Test debut at Birmingham, Prasad played the second Test at Lord’s, grabbed five for 76 in the first innings and ensured that his name will be on those boards.

It was also a Test made memorable by two debutants — Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

Ganguly scored 131, Dravid made 95 and two contrasting cricketing journeys took wing.

“I would have played at Lord’s again in the 1999 World Cup but we missed out on the second phase,” Prasad rues. Does he remember any of his Test wickets in his debut series?

“I don’t remember all the details but yes, I do remember getting Nasser Hussain in the second innings at Birmingham. Srinath was at fine-leg and he was yelling ‘bowl short to him’ and I did and Hussain hooked, top-edged and the skier was taken by Srinath. Even today Sri reminds me of that,” Prasad recalls.

Happy hunting ground

England has been a happy hunting ground for him. In the 1999 World Cup when all was lost, India still managed to defeat Pakistan at Old Trafford. India won by 47 runs and Prasad was the hero with a spell of five for 27.

“We scored 227 and at the break, we never spoke about our unbeaten record against Pakistan in the World Cup. We just said that we needed early wickets.

I remember some of the catches — Azharuddin’s effort at slip to help me get Saeed Anwar and Tendulkar’s catch that dismissed Moin Khan,” says Prasad.

What’s so special about playing in England? “It is about the wickets, the conditions, the weather and the atmosphere. England is the place to play cricket even now. The crowds understand the game’s nuances and appreciate everything. In 1996, I was so excited about bowling on those pitches that assist fast bowlers,” Prasad says.

When queried on the inexperience factor of the current crop of fast bowlers, Prasad replies: “Zaheer is the only one with experience but I have complete faith in the younger bowlers.

They have the talent and the commitment. In the camp, we watched videos of the South African batsmen, against whom we will bowl in the Ireland ODIs, and we have worked on the areas where we have to bowl. In England, it is important to get the batsman on to the front foot. We have to bowl a bit fuller so that the ball hangs in the air a bit so that it swings. I have spoken about these aspects.”

And did he ever think that he would come back to England as a bowling coach? Prasad says, “Forget 1996, even last year I never thought that I will be in England during this tour but I am happy to be back.”

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