‘Homecoming’ for S Sreesanth in Nagpur

Trust S Sreesanth to be a touch different, always. Even as the Dhonis and Harbhajans made use of every opportunity to slam the pitches — and their makers — dished out for the first two Tests against New Zealand, the Kerala pacer actually said that featherbeds bring out the best in him.

“Let me be honest here. I am not bothered by them (flat tracks). I simply see it as a challenge. A bowler’s job is to bowl, no matter what the nature of the wicket is. Pattas help me get out of my comfort zone. It’s hard work bowling on those kind of wickets, but it doesn’t annoy me,” Sreesanth told DNA on Thursday, soon after invoking the blessings of Lord Ayyappa at a temple in Nagpur, the venue for the third and final Test.

And now that Zaheer Khan has been ruled out of the Nagpur Test, Sreesanth will be expected to spearhead the attack in the all-important final Test.  “I see it as a great opportunity. I have quite a few seniors around me. Hopefully we’ll win the third Test,” he said.

The mercurial pacer also lauded young Ishant Sharma, with whom he will share the new ball. “Ishant has a great cricketing brain. He has a big heart too. His hardworking nature has brought him success so early in life. I am looking forward to share the new ball with him. Zaheer bhai will be missed, but I hope Ishant, I, Bhajji and Ojha can do the job,” said Sreesanth, who has six wickets in the series so far.

While the Kerala Express has toiled hard with the red cherry — he’s bowled 75 overs at an average of over 50 — Sreesanth did garner praise for adding over 100 runs for the last wicket with Harbhajan in the Hyderabad Test. “I took three blows from Tim Southee. Thank you, Southee. Your aggression only made me stronger,” an emphatic Sree said.

“The ‘old’ Sreesanth would have lost his cool and tried to hit the bowler for a six. The ‘new’ Sreesanth told himself to be calm. I told myself I won’t get out unless Bhajji gets to his hundred. And I kept my word.”

Sreesanth said the mantra in Team India is to “raise the bar”. Coach Gary Kirsten, Sree says, emphasises on the same all the time. “We are all in the process of raising the bar. That’s the nature of this team. We are No 1 and we want to remain No 1. I had never batted for so long. But I faced over 70 deliveries in Hyderabad. So I managed to raise the bar,” Sreesanth said.
For the record, Sreesanth made his Test and ODI debuts in Nagpur — albeit at a different ground — and can’t wait for the Test to begin.

“Everyone says my five-for in Kanpur (against Sri Lanka in 2009) was my comeback match. However, I would like to remind everyone that I made my ‘true’ comeback against Mumbai in the Irani Trophy last year (Nagpur). Those three wickets against the Ranji champs (for Rest of India) helped me get back into rhythm. So Nagpur has always been a lucky venue. Hope it continues that way,” he signed off.