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Journalism of Courage
COLOMBO, Aug 9: Debashish Sabeswar Mohanty became the first cricketer from Orissa to figure in a Test match. The Bhubaneshwar-born lad celebrated his inclusion in the eleven for the second and final Test match against Sri Lanka by snaring the prized wicket of Sanat Jayasuriya, the triple centurion of the previous match with his 13th ball.
The 21-year-old Mohanty came in an unsung and unheralded into the team against all expectations. As the only specialist new-ball bowler in the reserves to act as back-up support for Venkatesh Prasad and Abey Kuruvilla, Mohanty8217;s inclusion was a foregone conclusion on a wicket that was seamer-friendly.
He grabbed the opportunity to make a dream start to his Test career 8212; getting the pair who rewrote history with their Test record partnership of 576 at the Premadasa Stadium earlier this week.
Skipper Tendulkar was highly impressed with Mohanty. 8220;He was very consistent and showed good stamina. He, of course, has a long way to go but he has the right attitude for a fast bowler. I think he was really impressive,8221; he told The Indian Express.
Mohanty8217;s rise has been swift.He made his first class debut last and in his very first match, against Bengal in the East Zone Ranji Trophy league, captured five wickets in an innings at the Eden Gardens. His Ranji trophy performance 23 wickets in the season impressed the National selectors, who picked him for th South Asian Association and Regional Conference SAARC Championship in Bangladesh. He did not get too many wickets there but did enough to impress coach Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
Mohanty, who has the ability to move the ball either way, gives the impression of having a big heart. In the only opportunity that he got on the tour, in the three-day game prior to the first Test,he bowled reasonably well for one so young and inexperienced. Mohanty is very open-chested in his delivery and his windmill-style of action has a resemblance to the West Indian paceman, Colin Croft.
The MRF Pace Academy has taken him under its wings, which gives him the opportunity to enhance his skills under the tutelage of Dennis Lillee.
