Published: Aug 10, 2018, 10:27 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 10, 2018, 10:27 AM (IST)
S Sreesanth, banned (and as good as shunned) by BCCI from all official cricket for spot-fixing, took field on Thursday, though it is not clear where. Sreesanth bowled a few deliveries and posted videos of the same on Instagram. While it is difficult to tell whether he is back to his best, the run-up remains as rhythmic. While he is unlikely to make a comeback to the national side at 35, Sreesanth can still eye a future in franchise-based cricket.
BCCI had banned Sreesanth (along with Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, among others) in 2013 following the IPL spot-fixing scandal. Sreesanth filed a writ petition to challenge it in 2017. The accused were acquitted by a Patiala House Court in 2015 and a Division Bench of Kerala High Court lifted the ban imposed on Sreesanth, but BCCI did not budge from their ban.
Sreesanth’s 87 Test wickets have come at 37.59, but his numbers in South Africa (27 wickets from 6 Tests at 28.55) make impressive reading. He played a major role in India’s first win on South African soil, at Johannesburg in 2005-06, when he the through the Protean top order with 5 for 40 in the first innings to bowl them out for 84.
South Africa was indeed his favourite hunting ground. It was his catch that ended the inaugural World T20 (also at Johannesburg); he played 8 of his 10 T20Is in South Africa.
Sreesanth was also part of the World Cup-winning Indian side of 2011, though he featured in only the first match and the final and had a dismal outing.
