Javagal Srinath triggered revolution in Indian pace bowling – VVS Laxman

 

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman believes his ex-teammate Javagal Srinath was instrumental in triggering a revolution in India’s pace bowling. Srinath is regarded as one of India’s best fast bowlers and he was mostly right on the money. The right-arm pacer from Mysore had the pace under his belt and he was also known to swing the ball both ways.

However, there is no qualm that Srinath was often the lone warrior of the pace attack and he didn’t get a lot of support from the other end. As Srinath played most of his matches in Indian conditions, he didn’t get a lot of assistance from the pitches. Thus, he always had to search for ways to outsmart the opposition batsman.

 

Srinath scalped 236 wickets in 67 Test matches at an average of 30.49. The right-arm pacer snared 315 wickets in 229 ODI matches at an average of 28.09. The Mysore Express, as Srinath was famously known, had a smooth action, which helped in generating speed around 140 km/h.

“A tearaway fast bowler from a relative cricketing outpost of Mysore, he triggered a revolution in Indian pace bowling. Even in most unhelpful conditions, he always responded to the team’s needs with unflinching zeal. Sri’s strength was his hunger to perform under adverse conditions,” tweeted Laxman.

Srinath made his Test debut back in 1991 against Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane and he was able to take three wickets in his maiden Test innings. However, India lost that match by 10 wickets.

Srinath’s ODI debut came against arch-rivals Pakistan in the same year and he took one wicket in his maiden International match. India had won that game by 60 runs.

Meanwhile, VVS Laxman is paying tributes to his former teammates who were always instrumental in the success of the team. Laxman had shared a great bonhomie with these players and he is going down the memory lane to remember the former greats of the national side.

Laxman also heaped praise on former legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. All these players were the pillars of strength for the Indian team and did a fine job for the team during their heydays.