Javagal Srinath

Javagal Srinath is the spearhead of the Indian pace attack and is the only bowler in India to produce the speeds generally associated with West Indian or South African pacemen. After Kapil Dev`s retirement, Srinath broke into the playing XI and since then he has rarely let down the cricket fans in the country. Whether in Test cricket or the limited overs game, whether in making the initial breakthrough with the new ball, breaking up a vital partnership in the middle order or cleaning up the tail, Srinath can always be depended upon to deliver the goods. Bowling with a smooth action, the `Karnataka Express' has been able to extract pace and bounce from even docile wickets. Statistically his Test record is tarnished by his early tours, but he
is very much the genuine article who has frequently displayed the entire repertoire of the fast bowler's art - the dipping inswinger, the late outswinger, the deadly yorker, the whistling bouncer. At the same time he has never compromised on the basic qualities of bowling i.e. the line and the length. He has had injury problems in 1997 and 1998, possibly due to over-bowling but has now fully recovered after his shoulder operation. His one-day bowling record is very impressive, and only Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis have taken 100 wickets in fewer matches. He is also a useful tail-end batter and is capable of scoring runs at a brisk pace.

The spearhead of the Indian attack for many years now, Srinath has rarely let down the cricket fans in the country. Whether in Test cricket or the limited overs game, whether in making the initial breakthrough with the new ball, breaking up a vital partnership in the middle order or cleaning up the tail, Srinath can always be depended upon to deliver the goods. Bowling with a smooth action, the `Karnataka Express' has been able to extract pace and bounce from even docile wickets. Perhaps the finest tribute to his pace bowling skills is the fact that a large percentage of his impressive bag of international wickets have been taken on unfriendly tracks at home. On the bouncy tracks in Australia and South Africa and in green conditions in England, he has been the leading wicket taker. Srinath has frequently displayed the entire repertoire of the fast bowler's art - the dipping inswinger, the late outswinger, the deadly yorker, the whistling bouncer. At the same time he has never compromised on the basic qualities of bowling - line and length.

Srinath's overall performance is all the more creditworthy for it was only after Kapil Dev retired in 1994-95 that he became the spearhead of the attack. A vigorous tailend batsmen, he can be counted upon to get quick runs and has many times indulged in timely big hits. A safe outfield with a strong throwing arm, Srinath has been over bowled and this has forced him to miss a few Tests because of injury. Happily all that is past and after surgery to his shoulder in 1997 he seems to be a more complete bowler.

Test Debut: India v Australia at Brisbane, 1st Test, 1991/92
ODI Debut: India v Pakistan at Sharjah, Wills Trophy, 1991/92