By Aravind Ramachandran
http://sports.in.msn.com/cricket/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3349159&page=0
Key in ‘Sreesanth’ on any of the major search engines and on your screen will unfold a tale of what is perhaps the greatest downfall in the history of cricket. The beginning though, was perfect as ever. He is an accomplished break dancer and more importantly, the man in blue who held on to a catch that etched Team India’s name in T20 history. The average Indian would have killed for at least one of these tags.
The state of Kerala had all but given up on seeing a son of the soil claim a spot on the Indian cricket team. A cameo from Tinu Yohannan made up the entire script of world cricket for God's own country. 'Sreesanth' was the new password to deliverance. A solid record in domestic cricket, studded with a sparkling hat trick, saw Team India opening its doors to the firebrand pace sensation.
It was a time when Indian cricket stood divided between Saurav Ganguly and Greg Chappell. In a torrid series against Sri Lanka, skipper Rahul Dravid threw the new ball to the eager young pace bowler. Sreesanth took the run up to his moment of fame - but the Lankan batsmen showed no mercy. Chasing a mammoth target of 350, Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya made the most of the tender meat fed to them. Sreesanth's debut went unnoticed with an economy rate of 6.88 and 2 consolatory wickets.
By the end of his first season, he was the new buzzword in cricketing circles, a dazzling 6 for 55 against England being the crown jewel. Destiny then played a set of cards it reserves for a special crop of fast bowlers and Sreesanth fell to a spate of injuries. It took him nearly a year to return, but by then he was faster and more devastating than ever. India had found a dependable strike bowler for ODIs as well as Test cricket. The unsettling economy rate that marred his stats was considered a small price to pay.
A sequence of ups and downs marked the rest of his career in terms of results, performances and statistics - with the celebrated catch off Misbah-ul-Haq's paddle being perhaps his final moment of glory. But then that was never Sreesanth's identity in the world of cricket - on the field and off it.
So what was Sreesanth's first sin? In a country that reveres Sachin Tendulkar as a God of sorts, here was one man who dared to sledge him on field. Ever the gentleman, the little master patiently told him to back off. But Sreesanth had, by then, cemented his place on every Indian cricket devotee's hitlist. Other offences attributed to him include a beamer to floor the towering Kevin Pietersen, an elaborate send off to Hashim Amla, and of course a comic jig to celebrate his one triumph with the bat - dispatching an Andre Nel delivery over the ropes of New Wanderers'. But every Indian fan was secretly enjoying these escapades - including his near death experiences when every Indian wondered and every Aussie probably hoped that either Mathew Hayden or Andrew Symonds would bring the bat crashing down on the young mallu's skull.
But it was at the inaugural edition of the IPL that all hell broke loose. It would've been the juiciest piece of footage ever recorded on a cricket field, if not for the quick embargo, but the tale remains one to be passed down through generations. To cut a long story short, Harbhajan Singh lost his temper and 'allegedly' slapped Sreesanth, and the media went crazy! A bawling Sreesanth dominated the waves and reams, while Indian fans patted Harbhajan on the back. The BCCI authorities disagreed, in turn slapping the 'attacker' with a ban and the 'victim' with a warning.
A source having close access to the Indian dressing room, on condition of anonymity, attributes the Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with a very harsh verdict on the young man's fate: Sreesanth should never be allowed to play for India.
It proved to be an ominous prediction. Sreesanth had all but dropped from the present day radar of the Indian selectors, his fame now measured only in terms of the controversies he manages to fuel. Tollywood was calling, as was Mollywood at a stage, but the man has reportedly made it clear he'll settle for nothing less than Hollywood - though a few Bollywood and Tollywood starlets have been spotted in close proximity to the handsome young man.
The Kerala Cricket Association crowned him skipper of his state team, apparently a frantic attempt to revive their golden boy's sagging career. Sources suggest he intends to work on his batting and make a comeback as an all rounder, no less! Yet Sreesanth being the 'Sreesanth' we know, promptly notched up a 'final warning' from the very same KCA for indiscipline.
As the Sri Lankans tour India for the Test series in November, Sreesanth's inclusion is undoubtedly the breaking news of the season. The young pacer is now reborn into an Indian team that's still smarting from the Aussie thrashing.
Sreesanth vs the Lankans: India is watching with bated breath, yet unsure of whose side we are on!
Source: India Syndicate
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