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Journalism of Courage
The similarity in run-up and the trademark head-singlet that keeps his long mane in place, lead to the obvious poser: Is Ranadeb Bose India8217;s Dizzy-in-Disguise ? Far from it. But such is the persistence of the queries, that the Bengal pacer has even stopped shrugging at the suggestion that he has modelled either his action or appearance on Jason Gillepsie.
It8217;s apparently not so much the comparison that irks Mr Dizzy-in-Denial, but more the fact that the actual fashion-ode meant for his rock-band hero Jim Morrison has gone unnoticed all this year.
Selection committee wise men8217;s microscopes missed Bengal8217;s frontline pacer, tallying 194 first-class wickets even when he had excelled two seasons ago. But the towering man, who also holds the distinction of having never over-stepped for a no-ball in his first-class career, is hoping to step over the threshold after his latest effort.
There was little fretting despite being ignored from the World Cup probables. 8220;I was too exhausted to complain after bowling that evening when the list was out,8221; he says simply.
8220;I8217;ve been bowling 20-over spells which are physically exhausting. But at the same time, I8217;ve gained all my confidence from them, since they make me realise that I8217;m fit enough,8221; he says of his toilsome sprints to the crease.
Coach Paras Mhambrey apparently, has had all three Bengal seamers 8216;spell-bound.8217; 8220;Paras never sets wicket-targets for us. It8217;s never 8216;Go and get four-five wickets8217;, he always assigns us certain jobs to do for 5-7 overs. These things are new to us,8221; Bose explains.
Mhambrey8217;s landing in Kolkata has led to the shaping up a worthwhile pace-attack for Bengal. 8220;He8217;s been a blessing to my career. Earlier most coaches were batsmen, who rarely understood what pacers required of them. Paras, besides having been an outswing bowler like me, also came in with great experience from what we call the Bombay Gharana. He doesn8217;t instruct, he actually shows you how to do it bowling alongside,8221; he adds.
57 wickets over eight matches 8212; Bose remembers fantasising over those figures. 8220;Yeah, I used to day-dream of such a season 8212; with 50-60 wickets, now I8217;ve done it. The 7-24 against Hyderabad trigerred it all,8221; he says, adding in the same breath, 8220;I had a very good season a couple of years ago as well. But this time I want to follow up on this season with an equal performance in the next, so that people have no doubts left in their minds,8221; Bose insists.
