Balaji : Great to see him back!!

[zaheer]

HE’S BACK Away For Two Years, Laxmipathy Balaji Makes Grand Return With The First IPL Hat-Trick. Pace Has Made Way For Deception And He’s As Lethal As Ever, Finds Dwaipayan Datta IF EVER there was a theme for a dream, it was this. After being lost in the wilderness for over two years now, Lakshmipathy Balaji has finally announced his re-entry into the big stage. The smile is lost, but it has been replaced by a sense of determination that’s writ large on his face. Even as he avoids the media after a matchwinning performance against the marauding Team Mohali at the Chepauk on Saturday, there’s no way you can point a finger at him for being arrogant. He just feels he hasn’t done enough yet and you don’t lose your head when he politely refuses an interview. All you can do is to admire the man’s grit for the way he has risen from the ashes, fighting back from a stress fracture in the back that had all but finished his career. True, Balaji is no longer the bowler he was four years back when he became a smash hit in Pakistan. The pace is considerably lesser, the run-up is shortened, and he doesn’t charge in as the No 1 bowler of even a Chennai side which is struggling to find a spearhead. Yet, coming in at the ‘middle-overs’ of a T-20 game, Balaji still has the ability to dismiss batsmen of the quality of Shaun Marsh and Ramnaresh Sarwan in one over with his clever change of pace to turn the game on it’s head. The last over hat-trick may just be the icing on the cake, but Balaji deserves every bit of the ‘prize’ that makes him the story of the first half of the Indian Premier League. His Team Chennai coach Kepler Wessels doffs his hat for the way the medium-pacer has fought his way back. “He responds very well to suggestions and is never shy of giving his heart out at the nets. A lot of work has gone into his action and it’s paying dividends,’’ Wessels told TOI on Sunday morning. The coach said that he was just waiting for him to get absolutely fit before playing him in the tournament. “I thought he did a commendable job in the Delhi game itself...And the Saturday show was quite outstanding as well,’’ he added. Wessels, in fact, believes Balaji “can work his way back into the Indian One-day side as well’’. “He comes in from a shorter run-up, but he has those subtle variations of pace which can be very effective in the shorter version of the game,’’ the South African suggested. One of Balaji’s former India teammates, who was at the receiving end of the Tamil Nadu pacer’s Saturday show, Yuvraj Singh, too hailed the pacer. “It doesn’t matter if he wasn’t at his fastest best. He was brilliant with his deceptive slower ball. He was quite clearly, the best bowler of the day,’’ Yuvraj said. That tells quite a lot as bowlers like Sree Santh, Irfan Pathan, James Hopes and Albie Morkel were playing on either side. “It is very difficult to make a comeback after two years and I wish him all the luck for the future,’’ the Mohali skipper’s words were heartfelt. Yuvi is right. Balaji, after all that he has gone through, deserves his moment under the sun. TNN BALAJI’S TRIPLE TREAT 1st wicket (19.3 ov) Bowls a slower ball that sucks Irfan Pathan into a pull shot off the front foot. The ball lands straight to Suresh Raina at deep square leg 2nd wicket (19.4 ov) Bowls a fuller ball to Piyush Chwla, who, while backing away, lofts it to long off. Chamara Kapugedera takes the catch 3rd wicket (19.5) Bowls a slow, short ball outide off-stump. VRV Singh backs away and throws his bat and ends up topedging the ball to wicketkeeper Dhoni to complete the hat-trick Source : TOI

[zaheer]

The long road to Balaji’s comeback Leslie Xavier | TNN Chennai: A half-paced blitz that lasted a few minutes on Saturday night heralded the comeback of Lakshmipathy Balaji into big time cricket. Those five minutes will be remembered as the first hat-trick in the Indian Premier League and for the Chennai fast bowler’s enchanting smile when he claimed the wicket of Team Mohali’s VRV Singh to complete his feat and announce to the world that he is fit and raring to go. But what cricket fans all over the country won’t know is that those five minutes took the most part of two years in the making. Ramji Srinivasan, the Chennai-based fitness trainer, was one of the architects of the comeback saga of Balaji. In a chat with TOI, the trainer explains the nature of his injury and the long and arduous road that led to his recovery. “Everyone had written off Balaji when he suffered the stress fracture of the lower back in 2006,’’ says Ramji. “But this comeback shows his strong character and it’s just the beginning. His next step would be to play One-dayers and then Tests—one step at a time.’’ One step at a time indeed it was after he went under the knife in England, treated by Dr Vijay Ranawat, in May 2007. “A fast bowler experiences severe strains on his back during bowling and in Balaji’s case, he had a mixed action and had faults in his run up and delivery stride that could have caused his injury,’’ says Ramji. Back injuries are critical and should be treated with utmost care and Balaji’s rehab started in Chennai a month after his surgery. “It was a co-ordinated effort. The doctors and physios from England, his coach WV Raman and myself gave our inputs and a tailor made programme was devised for Balaji,’’ says Ramji. “We considered his physical condition, the nature of his injuries and most importantly the range of movements he will undergo after his recovery. The whole plan was to design a schedule that will suit his new bowling action that Tamil Nadu coach WV Raman was working on based on his bio-mechanical analysis. “It was like learning to walk all over again as his movement after the surgery were pretty limited. But Balaji showed tremendous will and the results are there to be seen,’’ said the trainer adding that the TNCA had supported the player throughout his treatment programme. TIME LINE CAREER RIDDLED WITH INJURIES 2004: Tour of England ends prematurely. First major injury —a combination of pelvic bone and abdominal tear. Recovers dramatically in just four months 2005: Makes a comeback to the Indian team at home against Pakistan in 2005, taking nine wickets in the 1st Test 2006: Injury strikes again in October during a Duleep Trophy match against West Zone 2008: Out of action for nearly two years, shuns public eye and media. Is included in the Ranji One-day squad; plays two games, against Himachal and Mumbai. In a surprise move, bought by Chennai team in the second round of IPL auctions. Sits out of opening games, returns with changed action, slower pace but more control; takes 5-24 including first hat-trick of the tournament against Team Mohali on his home ground on May 10 RECUPERATION: THE LONG ROAD THE INJURY: UNILATERAL STRESS FRACTURE IN L4 AND L5 PARA INTERARTICULARIS (LOWER SPINE). 2006: Goes for conventional treatment in Chennai but was unsuccessful 2007 May: Undergoes surgery in England under Dr Vijay Ranawat. Spends 1 month for post-surgery physiotherapy. June: Returns home and starts rehab programme with trainer Ramji Srinivasan and team July: The initial programme includes strengthening of the muscles pertinent to the lower back and improving the restrictions in movements caused by the surgery. Emphasis is also on posture correction & enhancing balance August: Aqua therapy (exercises in swimming pool), posture correction & exercises for progressive increase in mobility September: Strengthening exercises—functional strength, increasing muscle endurance, and specific muscle development programmes along with light aerobic fitness exercises October-December: Cricketing activity starts with coach WV Raman to correct bowling action. He begins by bowling four to five balls a day and slowly picks up. Changes affected after video and biomechanical analysis of his movements. Changes were also made in his run up and landing and even the position of the foot when he starts his run up 2008 January: Started playing local matches and continued with the fitness programme. February-March: Continued playing local matches and stated a new training programme specifically designed to prepare for the Twenty20 matches. TNN Source : TOI

[Rajiv]

last wickets luck, only

[Sachinism]

That delivery to Watson :adore:

[yoda]

Yes, that was something.

[zaheer]

That delivery to Watson :adore:

Awesome ball!! :hatsoff: brought back some old memories!! Hope he continues his form! Kudos to Gambo for using him superbly as well, gambo is using him as the second pacer!

[vvvslaxman]

He possess very good bowling skills. Too bad we have lost a good outswing bowler. He had one of those controlled outswing . Usually you won't see banana outswingers like Sreesanth tries. He had just enough to take the edge or stumps. Most of his dismissals are bowled in the matches i have seen. He manages all the movement within the stumps.

[zaheer]

He possess very good bowling skills. Too bad we have lost a good outswing bowler. He had one of those controlled outswing . Usually you won't see banana outswingers like Sreesanth tries. He had just enough to take the edge or stumps. Most of his dismissals are bowled in the matches i have seen. He manages all the movement within the stumps.

Agree!! My favorite bowler that emerged in the last 10 years!! Sadly injuries did him in!!

[Sid]

What a bowl that was......................

[zaheer]

Resurgent Balaji hails Akram's role Kolkata, Apr 18, (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders' pacer Laxmipathy Balaji credited bowling coach Wasim Akram for his resurgence, saying the iconic ex-Pakistan captain is passing all his tricks of the trade to him. Balaji took an impressive three for 15 against Rajasthan Royals here last night to help Knight Riders bundle out the visitors for a paltry 81 in 15.2 overs after being sent into bat. "We all know what is he (Akram) capable of. Definitely it's an education for each and every member of the team. We all are learning every bit of what he does. Like how to attack and all. All these things are very important for a bowler. The next generation of players will gain a lot (from him)," Balaji said of Akram after KKR's eight-wicket triumph. With this win, the Knight Riders completed their second victory over Rajasthan in a period of three days to climb to the top of the IPL standings. "It's a process. It's not over yet. We have still 10 more matches to go. It has to be planned like a ladder. We have to have a rhythm to go into the next level," the lanky pacer insisted. Balaji gave the first breakthrough to the Knight Riders, cleaning up in-form Shane Watson with a classic outswinger and the former India seamer said it was a dream ball. "It was a really good ball, something that I used to bowl some seven eight years ago. It was really thrilling to see the batsmen beaten. I would like to bowl similar bowls again and again," he said. "Watson was a very important wicket. We needed the wicket very badly in the first six overs. His breakthrough gave me immense pleasure." Balaji added. Balaji said the Eden Gardens wicket was on the slower side. "It was a little bit on the slower side. But you can't help conditions. Our batsmen really applied themselves well. (Gautam) Gambhir, (Manoj) Tiwary and (Manvinder) Bisla played sensibly," he said. "There is a long way to go. We will just take it match by match. We got to have a relaxed mind. We have got a good initiative," Balaji said about their approach for the upcoming matches in the tournament. Asked whether Knight Riders performances in the previous seasons affected the team in any way, Balaji said, "It's a completely new team with a new captain. We all get together very well and play as unit. It's a new season, whatever happened in the past is history."

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/154491/resurgent-balaji-hails-akrams-role.html

[zaheer]

Video for Balaji's wickets!! wzrpCpHIlZs

[Zelig]

:csk:

[glogirl]

i also saw in pak forums praising this guy.....balaji rocks..