Sreesanth: Coming Back to Life

He was hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket when he burst onto the international scene in 2006. Johannesburg was the ideal setting for a young and sprightly Indian and Sreesanth announced himself to the cricket world in style. He had the pace, the swing and he was moving the ball both ways- he was an enigma that Indian pace bowling had always lacked.

South Africans were humiliated in their own backyard and India did it with pace spearheaded by Sreesanth. The commentary team of experts scrutinized his bowling action, seam position, wrist position and myriad other positives to hail him India’s “Richard Hadlee”. That comparison in itself was ill conceived as Sreesanth would do well to be capped as many times as the number of scalps Sir Richard Hadlee had in ’85 series against the Aussies.

He however was every bit as good a bowler as he was hailed to be and he had the aggression too- well a little too much I guess. He had a rare streak of an entertainer too and he showed that with the “Dance” routine after hitting Nel for a six and then with the Amla incident for which he was quickly reprimanded.

It was clear as early as South Africa that this young lad had some temperamental issues to sort out. He needed some counseling and support from the people who run the sport but I guess he received none. India was still in SA when Sreesanth was criticized for his demeanor and his sometimes over the top on-field antics. While I was watching him closely those days I could sense trouble brewing slowly but surely. Sreesanth the entertainer was taking over the bowler in him and it hit the rock bottom with “Slapgate”. His scuffle with Harbhajan made him infamous and he soon lost confidence of the selectors- he had gone too far for their liking.

A young man was left distraught and he cried his way to cricketing obscurity after being slapped by his India team mate. He had a few injuries thereafter and he was all but out of India reckoning. He did not really help his cause as he made one headline after the other- none for cricketing reasons. He danced his way to reality television and was soon all over the print and television media with his dance show, celebrity linkups and brawls. He was more on page3 than where he belonged – the sports page.

It all went from bad to worse when he failed to turn up for Kerala camp following which he was given the final warning - for repeatedly violating the code of conduct. BCCI too issued a final warning in October 2009. All hope must have waned for a young and talented fast bowler and I am sure he would have been at least as surprised as I was when he was recalled to the India team. I would be lying if I said I was all hopeful for him as I was completely amazed to see him in the playing eleven.

Today, in a single day of test cricket, this young maverick has put all my doubts to rest- cricketing or otherwise. He has shown he still has the pace and movement he once flattered with. He has come alive on a slow track and has all but won the test match for India. How many fast bowlers have done that for us in the years gone by?

I am sure a lot of his detractors would still cast a doubt on his temperament but for me he is a different Sreesanth. His celebration after completing his 5-for was subdued as if to give out a signal of his true intent – of playing cricket to win matches for India. If Sreesanth is a changed man as he confessed after getting the elusive India call, he is making it amply clear and rightly so. I am doubly sure he now knows the importance of making quick amends and he has taken important steps today –not only by being superb with the ball but by also being restrained in his demeanor. Entertainer has taken a back seat and rightly so. Cricketer Sreesanth has finally arrived.