the great editor: December 2006

JOHANNESBURG: Indian wins abroad have usually been historic but this one against South Africa will be really special, because a genuine fast bowler has been discovered. Shantakumaran Sreesanth is not hype but a reality and his figures of (8-99) at the Wanderers have celebrated cricketers struggling for encomiums and praise.
“I can only think of Chetan Sharma in my time who left such an impression abroad so early in his career,” remarks Ravi Shastri, dipping deep into his experience of 25 years of association with top class cricket. If Sharma’s name evokes a scowl, it’s worth remembering that the Haryana cricketer and his 10-wicket haul at Edgbaston in his 12th Test was the reason India secured a rare major series win abroad in 1986 — a feat which was only recently emulated in the West Indies after 20 years.
Sunil Gavaskar rakes up a comparison with Kapil Dev in England in 1979 when the latter picked up 16 wickets from four Tests and had a five-wicket haul but more importantly bowled with genuine pace, perhaps the last time he was seen doing so in international circuit. “He (Sreesanth) has consistently bowled upwards of 140kmph and that’s not common,” said former South African skipper Kepler Wessels. “Everything about him is impressive.”
Allan Wilkins, former Gloucestershire medium-fast bowler and now a television commentator, chooses to describe the lift Sreesanth provides to his left-leg at the point of delivery and his high-arm, perfect wrist position to hit the seam on the deck which has made him return impressive figures at the Wanderers. “He is a very skillful young man

and I can only think of Glenn McGrath in modern day cricket who has hit seam so consistently as Sreesanth has done in this match,” Wilkins said. “During my time Malcolm Marshall of West Indies was master at hitting the seam, that too tilted, at will.”
South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock feels India has unearthed a talent who should serve them for years to come. In between all these praises, Sreesanth prefers to play the mumbling fool in front of media and public though all this changes when he has the red cherry in his hand.