Javagal Srinath's predictions about Indian fast bowlers ten years back

[Magneto]

This is in 2004, right after India won the Rawalpindi Test to clinch the Test series by a 2-1 margin, thereby becoming the first Indian team to win a Test series on Pakistani soil. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040418/sports.htm#2 Beginning of a new era in Indian cricket By Javagal Srinath The Indian cricket team attained new heights in Rawalpindi on Friday. In my opinion, this is the best-ever team in the last three decades. India has produced some good cricketers in the past, but this current side has some great players. Similarly, our team had played good cricket earlier but this time it has been playing some great cricket. Sense of commitment and alignment are the two main characteristics behind this extraordinary achievement. Forty days ago, just back from the exhausting tour of Australia, this very team was a rather reluctant starter for the tour. There were security fears, anxieties and feelings of too much pressure. But the boys were brave enough to put all that thoughts behind and performed to the fullest. The on-field performance made it amply clear that India were definitely the better of the two sides. But the pressure was certainly more on the Indians than the hosts. On the other hand, with quite a few players trying to establish themselves in the international arena, the Pakistan team is currently undergoing a period of transformation. Indians are a more experienced side. That made a difference. Virender Sehwag, the hero of the new generation Indian cricket, has redefined the art of batting. Calculated aggression and free mind is the framework of his batting. Yuvraj’s hundred was a revelation. The circumstances under which he got is maiden hundred would go a long way in helping him to be a more matured player. I am sure, the big guns in the team were able to make him understand that Test cricket is the one which brings stability in one’s cricketing career. The southpaw Irfan Pathan, I am confident, is a 300 Test-wicket material. At 19, the Baroda lad has shown tremendous maturity. He has understood the nuances of fast bowling well enough to become a strike bowler. Cricketing sense is what is required at the highest level. In years to come, he will surely add a few more yards of pace. In fast bowling, you always get to see a raw pace bowler entering the international cricket. Within three to four years, the same boy starts working more on the line and length, sacrificing the pace. Here, it appears that this lad is already there with four years of experience and few yards of pace still in the kitty. I can promise you this bowler will be a devastating fast bowler. Balaji has proved to be the dark horse of Indian cricket. He is another bowler who has performed beyond expectations. The Tamil Nadu bowler operates with simple philosophy of line and length. He has understood the relevance of corridor bowling. His immaculate line and length gives credibility to the bowling department itself. The fitness of this guy is equally commendable. Balaji’s economical, open-chested high arm action is an injury-free action. In my opinion, Balaji will seldom have injuries because of his action. I still have a lot of hopes on Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra to come good in the future. Is it almost an embarrassment of riches in the Indian fast bowling department. Now, sitting far away from the scene of action, I feel that my decision to quit international cricket is fully justified. After all, had I continued playing, it would not have been beyond the Australian series. But that could have delayed the emergence of the two new stars, who have the potential to serve the country for a long time. In hindsight, my decision to quit cricket has come good for the team. It is evident that the senior members of the squad along with the back-up team have done a lot of good work on the new entrants. It’s only when the younger lot delivers, the team wins consistently. If Rahul as a senior delivered with the bat, the young bowling attack perfectly complemented his efforts. This is only the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket

[suraj]

:giggle::giggle::giggle::giggle: Talk about worst predictions ever- Balaji's injury free action has certainly gone a long way IKP looking for 500 mark now:giggle::giggle:

[tweaker]

Srinath judgement at that time was right.I think Chappell idea of making Pathan an All-rounder destroyed him

[Cricket_Hacker]

come on,irfan pathan was awesome at that time

[Sidhoni]

Balaji to remain injury free :giggle:

[King Tendulkar]

come on' date='irfan pathan was awesome at that time[/quote'] :((

[Stuge]

:((

[Sooda]

:((

Except he was awesome, a crucial ingredient in that series win and was an excellent ODI bowler, especially early on but even until much later in his career. Of course he never continued in that vein and thats a huge shame. And neither did RPS, Munaf etc

[Detonator]

Come on, Srinath didn't predict anything. He just saw the potential of the bowlers at that time. Irfan was awesome and Balaji used to be fit, he got in a bad shape after that surgery.

[Sooda]

The proudest bit for me of that series was how our rookies totally out bowled their vaunted Akhtar Sami pace attack...and then there was Sehwag :D

[SLICKR392]

Balaji has proved to be the dark horse of Indian cricket. He is another bowler who has performed beyond expectations. The Tamil Nadu bowler operates with simple philosophy of line and length. He has understood the relevance of corridor bowling. His immaculate line and length gives credibility to the bowling department itself. The fitness of this guy is equally commendable. Balaji’s economical, open-chested high arm action is an injury-free action. In my opinion, Balaji will seldom have injuries because of his action. I still have a lot of hopes on Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra to come good in the future. Is it almost an embarrassment of riches in the Indian fast bowling department.

[Cricket_Hacker]

i actually liked balaji's batting rather than his bowling he slogged with his eyes closed

[G_B_]

Still better than somebody like Ganguly who calls for Dinda to be called back to the Indian squad.

[AnkurUpadhyay]

i actually liked balaji's batting rather than his bowling he slogged with his eyes closed

He was crowd's favorite with his ever smiling face...

[putrevus]

Irfan was never awesome once ball got old, Same thing with Ishant Sharma he never has wicket taking ability. We got fooled because no one was there when these bozos came up.One guy who looked like he can take wickets never gets a chance to get back into the country club for reasons totally unknown.

[Switchblade]

During Greg Chappel era we had a descent bowling pool there was Munaf/RP/Sree/Sir Aggy/Irfan sadly became inconsistent

[putrevus]

Balaji was always going to be one or two series wonder like much like Bhuvi.

[Switchblade]

Balaji was always going to be one or two series wonder like much like Bhuvi.

I remember his debut game where he was smashed by Hinds and Gayle after that did well in Australia and Pakistan but went downhill after that.

[zep1706]

Irfan Pathan is a huge opportunity lost for India I have no doubts about it. He could have been the perfect fifth bowler/number 7 bat that India so desperately need to have success overseas. He is a perfect case of player mismanagement.

[Ram]

its like Javagal Srinath got up one morning and told himself - 'Today, i am going to write an article that just BS and BS only..' :phehehe: