The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ‘It’s an opportunity to sustain rhythm’

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‘It’s an opportunity to sustain rhythm’

S. Ram Mahesh

— Photo: V. Ganesan

GETTING THE RHYTHM BACK: Irfan Pathan believes his stint with India ‘A’ will help him get into the groove.

CHENNAI: Irfan Pathan sees his stint with the India ‘A’ side not as a demotion but an opportunity to sustain bowling rhythm.

“If you don’t play regularly, that’s when you rhythm goes haywire,” said the left-armer, after practising here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Friday afternoon.

“This is a chance for me to get some overs under my belt before the season. I’m happy with my rhythm, with the way I bowled in the last game in Sri Lanka, and against New Zealand ‘A’.

“My economy was good, I was swinging the ball, and I had decent zip.”

Competitive world

Asked about the competition for seam-and-swing bowling spots in the national team, Pathan said, “It’s a competitive world. The problem starts when you aren’t performing as well as the team wants you to. I do feel bad when left out, but you’ve got to always stay positive.”

On criticism pertaining to his lack of pace and his ineffectiveness on flat tracks, the 23-year-old said, “I wonder where that comes from, because I was never express. I am not Shoaib Akhtar.

“You do need that zip, which I think have regained. My role has changed as well. I’m not saying it’s difficult to take wickets with the old ball, (but) the white ball only swings for the first 10-12 overs.”

Pathan, who worked with T.A. Sekhar to straighten his action last year, said he was satisfied with the rate of progress. “I owe him (Sekhar) a great deal because such corrections can be made only by someone who has observed your action over a period of time.

“I did well after that, at Perth, and in the one-dayers against Australia.

“After the IPL, the rhythm wasn’t so good. I’m returning to the basics in my preparation for the season.”

India ‘A’ takes on New Zealand ‘A’ on Sunday.

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