This might sound strange but Aussies are not comfortable playing Ishant Sharma. The reason for this is simple, the unexpected! The Australians expect ‘Medium Pacers’ from India, not a genuine pace bowler. They are used to real fast bowlers from Pakistan but never from India. This mind-set has unnerved them for the past few seasons. Ishant Sharma has a high arm delivery action and is able to move the ball in both directions. Add to this, his lean frame and an unusual height (6′-4″) and you have the potential of a bullet coming towards you. Because of all this, he has the advantage of hitting the ground hard and getting a bounce the Aussies do not appreciate. They have been doing this to all other countries for decades, but now they are at the receiving end! India needs to use this weapon sparingly and not as a work-horse.
Indian Test Cricket Skipper, Anil Kumble is not the kind of a leader that our team needs. He used Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma to bowl 30 overs a piece in the first innings against Australia in the first test played at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. At this rate, how long do you think either one of them would last? He could have used Sourav Ganguly for 10 to 12 overs and given both the opening bowlers some rest. He should have used Virender Sehwag for at least 10 overs instead of 6 in the first innings. I am not trying to second guess the captain; he is just too adamant and does not like to play with 5 full-time bowlers. Irfan Pathan was similarly used and destroyed. Ishant is a rare cricket talent and he needs relief and care to last for 10 years.
Ishant Sharma was born on September 2, 1988 in Delhi, India. The lanky speedster is nicknamed ‘lamboo’ for being so towering! His father is a small businessman and runs an air-conditioner repair shop in Delhi. Ishant started playing cricket at the age of 14, rather late for a professional cricketer. He made his Ranji Trophy debut at 18. “He has a lovely high-arm action, smooth run-up and an attractive follow-through. Ishant has a deadly, deceptive bouncer, which he is shrewd enough to use judiciously. He tends to pitch the ball short, hit the deck hard and captures the batsman by surprise“, reports Haresh Pandya of Rediff. Ishant Sharma is one of the most outstanding junior cricketers in recent years. He toured England with the India Under-19s in 2006Â and Pakistan in 2006-07. After consistently impressing at the junior level, he found his way into the Delhi side in 2005-06. He got his test break against Bangladesh in May 2007.
Ishant Sharma to Ricky Ponting
Ishant Sharma – a profile
Filed under: Cricket Tagged: | 5 full-time bowlers, Anil Kumble, Aussies, Chinnaswamy Stadium-Bangalore, Haresh Pandya, High arm delivery action, Indian Test Cricket Skipper, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Lamboo, Lanky speedster, Medium Pacers, Move the ball in both directions, Pace bowler, Pakistan, Ranji Trophy, Rediff, Sourav Ganguly, The Australians, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan
