The Hindu : Sport : A great feeling, says Pathan

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Monday, Dec 10, 2007
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A great feeling, says Pathan

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Bangalore: A Test century perhaps never figured in Irfan Pathan’s wildest dreams. And there was no masking the delight in his face as he spoke to the media on Sunday.

“Since the day I came back to the Indian team be it the Twenty20 team or the one-day team, I have been bowling and batting well but when it comes to Test cricket, I never thought I will score a century and it is a great feeling to get my first hundred,” Irfan said.

Irfan notched his maiden century, hoisting Danish Kaneria for a six over long-on. Was it an act of desperation as last man Ishant Sharma was at the non-striker’s end ?

“Of course you do have confidence in your partner but then it was spin and I thought I will take a chance, I could have also been 96 ‘out’ or “not out’ but thankfully I struck that six,” Irfan said adding it felt good that Anil Kumble delayed the declaration for his century.

Thrilling

Irfan also spoke about the thrill of bowling in Tests after a long gap. “I was happy to bowl that first over and even after scoring that century, I ran back to the pavilion to get ready to bowl. I am like a child and I still have the thrill that I used to have when I first played for India,” Irfan said.

He added scoring 600 plus totals in two successive Test matches is a credit-worthy achievement.

On the pitch, Pathan admitted that a few deliveries kept low but he added that the pitch is still is fresh as India scored its runs quickly in about one and a half days.

“There will be a rough on the pitch in the coming days and we need to bowl well,” he said.

Earlier, Pakistan opener Salman Butt, who crossed the 1000-run mark in Tests during an unbeaten 50, also spoke about the two-paced nature of the pitch.

“A few balls did keep low. You cannot pre-meditate the bounce, basic plan is to come forward and focus,” Butt said.

Unnecessary prank

An unnecessary prank left a bad taste in the press box at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday.

A journalist’s written note about Rahul Dravid wanting to speak to the media after the second day’s play, led to an official announcement and soon the electronic as well as print media were in a flap.

Amidst speculations, it turned out to be a prank played by the journalist on the gullible scorer.

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