SPIN chat to Indian seam bowler Sreesanth

How did you come to play county cricket?

It was through Simon Katich, really. I played with him in the IPL and he introduced me to Allan Donald [Warwickshire’s first team coach] at the start of July. He just asked if I wanted to play and I said yes straight away. I didn’t even ask about the terms or conditions, or see a contract. I jumped at the chance.

What’s the attraction?

The opportunity to work with Allan Donald was a major factor. He was one of my childhood heroes and, when India toured South Africa in 2006, I ran off the team bus to get my picture taken with him.

Maybe it’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I had a poster of him in my bedroom when I was younger. I only had three posters and they were of Allan Donald, Jonty Rhodes and Sachin Tendulkar. It really is a pleasure to work with Allan now. They called him ‘the rubber man’ and I’m learning about his work ethic and how he did things on and off the pitch.

He’s already helping me cut down my run-up. It was 33 yards, but I’m coming in off 23 yards now. It doesn’t make any difference to my pace; it’s more about rhythm and feeling good.

I’d always thought it would be good to play county cricket. I used to follow it on TV with my dad and I knew Warwickshire was where Shaun Pollock and Dale Steyn had played. And everyone knows what Brian Lara did there.

Playing in English conditions is fun, too. I came on a tour here when I was about 15. We played a few games in Bristol and I scored a couple of centuries. I was an opening batsman and leg-spin bowler back then.

What happened to that batting talent?

I don’t know, but I feel I’m getting it back slowly. With God’s will, I’d like to bat at seven or eight.

The problem was, at the MRF Academy I never bothered with it. I just wanted to run in and bowl as fast as I could. Then I was in the habit of just hitting, but I’m telling myself to leave the ball more and be patient.

It’s vital I improve my batting. Whether it’s Test cricket, ODIs, T20 or the IPL, I know I have to play more of a part with the bat. Hopefully this spell in county cricket will help.

And the leg-spin?

I bowled leg-spin until I was about 19. I played from U16 to U19 level as a spinner.

But, and I’ll be honest, I got a bit fed up. We played with tennis balls most of the time and it was too hard to get people out. You can’t scare people with a tennis ball, can you? I loved running in, bowling fast and delivering bouncers. You can’t do that if you’re bowling leg-spin.

I still bowl the odd leg-break. It’s a great ball to have up your sleeve when you’re bowling in the last over of a one-day game. But I only use them as slower balls and off my full run-up.

What’s your best pace?

The fastest I’ve been timed is 151.6 kph, but I feel I’m at my best when I bowl between 138-145 mph. That’s the speed where the seam comes out best and I get the ball to swing. I can bowl faster, but there’s not much point if the ball doesn’t go where you want it.

Who helped make you into a fast bowler?

God has been very kind. It came naturally. I was just fortunate to be blessed with the fast twitch muscle fibres and a will to train hard. We did a lot of drills at the MRF Academy, which really helped, and I have learned a great deal from Dennis Lillee and TA Sekhar. It was Lillee who instilled my belief: he had such faith in me and just told me to keep going and to believe in myself.

You’ve had your fair share of issues with other players. Why is that?

You’re right, I play with a lot of passion and I haven’t always thought about the outcome. Apart from money, I don’t believe in saving anything for tomorrow. I want to give everything I have on the pitch and sometimes, maybe, I can get a bit carried away.

I’m quieter now; I’d rather do my talking with the ball. I did learn a bit about mental disintegration in psychology, but there’s nothing that disintegrates a batsman more than bowling a great ball.

I used to stare a lot and there are still times when a few words might unsettle a batsman. Hopefully something clever rather than foul. But at other times talking to a batsmen probably helps them, so I’m just focusing on putting the ball in the right areas.

How’s your fitness?

I’m fine. The injury problems have been disappointing, but I’m trying to see the positive side of it. I’ve had a lot more time to see my family, which is something I hadn’t done for about five years.

I had a stress fracture. No-one could diagnose it for a while so I played two or three first-class games before I knew what the problem was. I was told I would be out for six months.

But I was lucky. I went to the IPL anyway and, thanks to the team, I really pushed myself in training. I

worked so hard that I managed to play six games. If I hadn’t done that, I’m not sure I’d even be playing by now.

The IPL is probably ideal for a comeback. There’s a lot of pressure but you can only bowl four overs.

Probably the main reason I’ve come to play county cricket is because I’m desperate to play against Australia. They’re touring India from October. Hopefully, if I can prove I’m fully fit and bowling at my best, I can move my game to another level and play against Australia.

What was your role of ‘fan mentor’ for the Kings XI Punjab involve?

Oh, that was about encouraging people to get behind the team. It was particularly important as the tournament wasn’t in India. I also tried to make the team feel comfortable and motivated.

You were a break-dance champion in your youth. Do you still break-dance?

Not really, no. I was national champion when I was in eighth grade. The Warwickshire boys put on some Bhangra in the dressing room and tried to get me dancing; it was a lot of fun. I won an oil painting competition that same year as winning the break-dance thing. And I wrote poems, too. I’ve done a lot of things. But I gave it all up for cricket.

Whatever I do, I give my best shot. I don’t want to be a jack-of-all-trades, I want to excel. Cricket is my passion, so that’s where I’ve put all my energy.

I still sketch and, maybe when I’m 35 I’ll go back to break dancing. Actually, make that 40: with the IPL, I can play cricket a few years longer!

For many years very few fast bowlers emerged from India. Now there are half-a-dozen of you; why is that?

I think we have to thank the media for that. In the past there was only one TV channel, but now there are loads. Youngsters can watch Brett Lee or Dale Steyn all the time and people like that inspire you. I was inspired to be a cricketer by watching Sachin Tendulkar. I mean, who hasn’t been inspired by him? Who wouldn’t want to be his wife, his brother or his friend? He’s inspired all of us.

The life of a cricketer seems so glamorous when you watch on TV, too, and parents are more willing to see their children pursue a career in the game. There’s much more money involved than there used to be.

The reality is a bit different. When you’re playing on a flat pitch in Chennai and it’s 42 degrees and 90% humidity, you have to work very hard. You can probably only succeed if you enjoy it.

Was it daunting joining an Indian team containing so many well-known players?

I was really lucky. For a start, being on the same side as Sachin, Ganguly and Dravid meant I didn’t have to bowl at them.

It could have been daunting, but they made it easy. They were really good to me. They made me feel welcome and relaxed. I just kept telling myself to observe and learn.

Are you recognised much in England?

More than I thought I would be, yes. I suppose there are a lot of Indian and Pakistani people in Birmingham and they love their cricket.

It’s been fine; much easier than it is in India and much easier than it is for someone like Sachin. He really is like a god there.

India can be tough and there are times when the attention can be really irritating. But I haven’t had a serious problem. Occasionally I’ve needed some help from security, but nothing serious.

I don’t really mind it. Success has a price and, if people want to say hello, that’s a nice thing, really. I enjoy mingling with people anyway.

Do you have a favourite game or spell?

You know, most people talk to me about my bowling against South Africa [when he took 16 wickets in the first two Tests and helped India to their first Test win in South Africa] in 2006-07 but my spell against Australia in the semi-final of the first T20 World Cup was even more special. It was a big game and, as the [50 over] world cup winners, they were the overwhelming favourites. But I yorked Gilchrist and Hayden to help us beat them and we went on to win the final, too. That performance gave me a lot of confidence and moved me into a different category as a bowler. It showed people what I could do.