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Cricket
Modest but tough, that's Srinath
By Our Sports Correspondent
BANGALORE, DEC. 22. It's hard not to admire Javagal Srinath. The paceman with the heart of a lion, a cricketer whose modesty can be striking.
This has been a mixed year for the genial Karnataka bowler, a string of fine performances sandwiched between a series of terrible injuries sustained while batting. A season in which he also crossed significant milestones. In South Africa, where he bowled with both fire and cunning, Srinath became only the second Indian paceman to go beyond 200 Test wickets, following in the footsteps of the legendary Kapil Dev.
And when Srinath snared Craig White with a short delivery from round the wicket in the England first innings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, he also reached an extremely hard-earned landmark of a 100 Test scalps at home, again only the second man to do so after the Haryana legend.
The simple player from Mysore himself didn't make much of the rare feat though when he spoke to The Hindu during one of the several interruptions for rain during the fourth day of the final Test. ``I always feel there is a place for a pace bowler in India. If you have the desire, you can pick up wickets in these conditions. You have to change your line and length accordingly, be prepared for a lot of work,'' he noted.
Srinath himself has been operating to a wonderful line these days, relentlessly attacking the batsmen in the `corridor' around the off-stump. ``Pace is an important ingredient, however, along with it, a bowler has to bowl in the right direction so that he can find the edge of the bat. Making the ball seam along with pace is the trick.'' The 32-year-old Karnataka bowler has added other tricks to his trade as well, like sending down a well concealed slower one. During his four-wicket haul in the England first innings here, with virtually no pace support from the other end, subtle variations in speed were valuable allies. ``This has come after a long time. I had practised that quite a lot at the nets.''
Never the one to shy away from taking tough decisions, Srinath believes he may have to reassess his career soon to see whether he can continue. ``Yes, in another six months I have to take a crucial decision. It all depends on how much I feel I could bowl from there, how long I think I could carry on.''
The leader of the Indian pace pack goes on. ``It hinges on whether I would be able to make it to the next World Cup if I decide to continue, ...whether I would be able to fit into the scheme of things for the future. It is an important phase of my career, and I want to take the right decision at the right stage.''
Here Srinath feels his interaction with senior team- mates-Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid-is vital. ``I discuss my bowling with them. The day they say I am not bowling at my best, or I am past my prime, I will call it a day. I will not stay a moment longer than that. I am extremely honest with them and they are honest with me.''
Ask the man who has seldom put himself before India about the next generation of fast bowlers from the country and his answer is, ``Any young bowler coming into the side has to have a clear vision about what he's going to do for the country over the next ten years. He should have the mind and the heart for the job. He should have the perseverance, and should be willing to learn fast. There is enough talent in India.''
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