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A long way ahead
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He is an effortless striker with a full range of strokes. Meet R. Sathish, who is waiting for the big break
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Photo: V. Ganesan
PROMISING PLAYER R. Sathish
If at all there is a case for picking someone on potential, R. Sathish is the man. Not that he doesn't have the performances to back him; he invariably sends the fielders on a leather hunt or scores direct hits.
Yet, the promise in the cricketer is so overwhelming that the chances are that he could, if provided the right opportunities, do the country proud, especially in the shorter version of the game.
Sathish is a natural, fluent striker of the ball, can send down useful medium pace and fields like a dream. It's a package that sells.
Story of struggle
The story of Sathish, a mechanical engineer from Tiruchi, is also one of struggle. The doors have not opened for him like they do for the more fortunate ones. The climb to the top has been hard for this blithe spirit who "likes to make friends and meet people."
The sheer exuberance of his cricket earned him a place in the Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy team in the 2000-2001 season. The depth in the State ranks meant he received just two opportunities.
Realising the importance of a permanent place for making an impression at the first class level, Sathish shifted to Assam. He was in blazing form in the 2003-04 season scoring 520 runs in six Ranji matches at 74.28 (three hundreds).
The following season, his unbeaten 204 against, ironically, Tamil Nadu at Guwahati was a reminder to his state about the kind of talent they were missing out on.
Indeed, he is learning much about the art of building an innings, tempering his aggression and Michael Hussey is his hero. "He plays his natural game in both forms of the game, but is also so solid."
In the past he has, on occasions, been guilty of throwing it all away after having the attack at his mercy. If his performances this year are any indication, he has put that phase behind.
The right-hander had scores of 146 (against Mambalam Mosquitos), 146 (India Pistons) and 160 (India Cements) representing Chemplast Sanmar in the inaugural V. A. Parthasarathy Tournament. Then he was named the Man of the Series in The Hindu Trophy. His 588 runs in the two tournaments consumed just 388 balls.
He was consistent in the Moin-ud-Dowla Trophy, notched up half-centuries against IOC, Associate Bank and KSCA in the Canara Bank tournament and rattled up a 42-ball 65 at the expense of IOC in the Mumbai Corporate tournament.
And Sathish's hectic 89 in the final of the same competition against ONGC earned him praise from the celebrated former India captain Ajit Wadekar. Such words of encouragement are not uncommon for Sathish.
Years ago when he blasted 84 off only 83 deliveries against Indian Airlines, Javagal Srinath walked into the dressing room and said affectionately, "Why are you hitting us like that ra." Sathish is an effortless striker of the ball with a full range of strokes. His favourite areas are: "over long-off and long-on."
He moved back to Tamil Nadu last season but the selectors need to give this confident cricketer a longer run than a couple of games. A shot-maker of his ability requires a wider canvas to express himself.
Sathish remembers those who have helped him along the way. "Robin Singh and Vikram Rathore gave me terrific inputs at India Pistons. And Bharat Reddy sir and Abdul Jabbar have always been there for me at Chemplast." His friend and State-mate Vasanth Saravanan has been a huge source of support for him.
Simply put, Sathish is a match-winner and deserves serious consideration. A place in the India `A' squad to tour Australia in June will not be out of place for him.
S. DINAKAR
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