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Home > Cricket > England's tour of India > Report


'Debut was just another first class game'

Harish Kotian in Nagpur | March 01, 2006 19:25 IST

Scorecard | Images

India fast bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth [Images], who was called twice for running on the pitch on day 1 in the first Test against England [Images], is confident that he will not repeat the act.

"Yes, the warning did worry me a bit. It had happened in the Irani Trophy game also, when I was called off the bowling. But I was confident that I wouldn't repeat it," said the debutant Kerala [Images] pacer, who finished the day with two wickets for 56 in 18 overs.

The 23-year-old had made his one-day international debut at the same venue, the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground, against Sri Lanka [Images] last October.

"Both debuts were good. It was good to make both the debuts on the same ground."

Sreesanth, who provided India the first wicket -- that of opener Andrew Strauss [Images] -- said the dismissal was well-planned.

"You can say I had planned the first wicket. I was just looking to basically bowl a good line and the ball went to second slip," he said.

"I thanked God after getting the first wicket. It was great getting the wicket of Andrew Strauss, who is a world-class batsman. I just kept doing the basics well and it was great to get that first wicket."

He also added that he got a lot of support from his team mates, who kept encouraging him throughout the day's play.

"Rahul Dravid [Images] said, 'enjoy the game and believe in yourself'. Those are just normal words, but it matters a lot. In fact, all the players in the team supported me."

Though it was his debut match, he said he did not put any undue pressure on himself.

"I took it as just another first class game and just went out and enjoyed myself. I was confident of myself. The important thing I have learnt is that you need to have persistence. You need to have faith in yourself."

The pacer felt that the ball started to reverse swing early as the 16th over of the innings.

"It was good for us that the ball started reversing early; it happens because of the dry wickets and SG balls. In first class cricket we got a lot of wickets through reverse swing. So we are used to it," he said.

He added that Kevin Pietersen [Images] is one of his favourite batsmen and his dropped catch by V V S Laxman [Images] at slips did not affect him.

"One wicket I really wanted is Pietersen. He is one of my favourite batsman and it was great to get his wicket," he said.

"You have to accept, as a fast bowler, that there will be dropped catches off your bowling. You should be ready for it and be confident that you can produce another wicket-taking delivery."


Englands's tour of India: The Complete Coverage

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