Sreesanth

Multan: Sreesanth may not have been very successful on this tour, but his approach and style has come in for a lot of appreciation from former Pakistani pacers. Only the other day, Sarfraz Nawaz felt the youngster could develop into a very good fast-cum-stock bowler. Sreesanth spoke to The Telegraph in the lead-up to the series.

Following are excerpts:

On how he assesses his performance in international cricket so far

I realise I should have done much better. I think I was a bit over excited and not focusing enough in the initial stages. I have noticed from footages before this tour that I wasn’t concentrating enough on the fifth/sixth balls of an over. As a result, the loose balls were getting punished.

I have spoken to Dennis Lillee on this aspect, and he has advised me to focus ball by ball. He told me that I was striving for extra pace, and should concentrate on the basics. I am more mature now and am confident that I will improve with time.

On what experience has taught him

Do your own stuff, take it as any other game, and don’t overreact to situations. That I should persist with my own performance and try and be consistent.

On his most memorable performance

The day Sachin paaji handed me the India cap in Nagpur where I made my debut versus Sri Lanka. He is like god to me. This I what I had aimed for, and when it happened, I didn’t know what to do. My first wicket (Dilhara Lokuhettige in the same match) will also remain memorable.

I remember during the pre-season conditioning camp in Bangalore I was just going through the motions. It took me almost a week to realise that I was into big time cricket. I remained dazed for almost a week after the initial announcement that I was in the squad.

On coach Greg Chappell’s message

Greg has told me to concentrate on the basics and have self-belief. That while bowling at nets I should imagine myself going through match situations. This will develop self-belief and help in planning exactly what you want to do. The confidence will naturally develop and that will breed success.

On whether he has received advice from any Pakistan pacer

Earlier this year when Waqar Younis was in India for the veterans meet, I went up to him. He told me that my run-up and action were good and that I should use more of the crease to be more successful. The yorkers seem to be working as per his suggestion.

I would have loved to meet Wasim Akram and Imran Khan, but that hasn’t happened till date. However, I have got some advice from Sarfraz during a reception at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

On any Pakistan pacer whom he admires

I was a big fan of Akram. I liked his style, his action, his ability to play on the batsman’s mind, the way he swung the ball both ways? I haven’t seen much of Imran, though. I grew up idolising Srinath paaji and Allan Donald.

On whether responsibility has added to pressure

Pressure is always going to be there? It’s part and parcel of international cricket. I have done well under pressure. It’s all about self-belief? I now know it’s a mind game out there.

On any childhood memories of Pakistan cricket

In the 1996 World Cup, I was a ball boy at the Chinnaswamy Stadium during the India-Pakistan quarter final match. I was studying in Bangalore and played junior cricket at the KSCA. That famous win and the way Ajay Jadeja took 22 runs off one Waqar over during the closing stages, will always remain etched in memory.

On whether he had any special preparation for the ongoing Pakistan tour

I did more of spot bowling and practised wicket-to-wicket. It was more of off-season stuff since there weren’t enough matches being played.

On whether he is concentrating enough on his batting

Not really? I started off as a batsman and have faith in my abilities. I am concentrating more on bowling since that is my prime motivation now.

On what he hopes to learn from this tour

The mere thought of an India-Pakistan contest excites me? I have heard so much about it? Now that I’ve got a real feel of it, I wish to utilise this experience in the future.