Long before the final lines of this Antigua thriller were being written, Team India’s journey back from the dead in the West Indies was taking shape on the face of this young cricketer from Kochi, who sat alone at the team hotel’s beach, staring vacantly out into the sea.On the second day of this Test match, that Caribbean typhoon called Chris Gayle had torn apart his confidence, his will to fight. Sreesanth thought he will never play for India again. Then, there was the pain.The morning before the Test, a two-year-old injury on his left ankle had flared up, triggered by the uneven, irregular surface on which India had played their practice match here. But by evening, after treatment, he felt fit, and was in the XI, hours away from fulfilling his dream of bowling the first over for India.Then came Gayle. And through the second day, whenever the 23-year-old from God’s Own Football Country, playing only his third Test, turned back from his run-up, all he saw was not the tall Jamaican, but a lurking six. But yesterday, his left ankle in an ice pack, struggling to land that ankle on the spot, a cloud of doubt over his future, Sreesanth, said, “Tomorrow is my day, man, I am going for five wickets.”Today, as the West Indies battled to save the match in the opening session, weighed down by crushing target of 392 runs, it was redemption time for Sreesanth — known to be one of the few ‘characters’ in this Caribbean caravan with his odd mannerisms — as it has been for Team India over the last two days of this match. Three overs to go for the lunch break, he got a chance for the first time in this innings to bowl from his favourite end, beneath the commentary box, and struck. No, he didn’t get five, but he got two that would have added up to 10 in any team — Ramnaresh Sarwan (1) and Brian Lara (0).First to go was the Sarwan, who had scored a century in that famous world record 418-run chase against Australia here three years ago — this time, he sliced one to Anil Kumble at gully. And then, in his next over, the big wicket. Lara, for a seven-ball duck, leg before to one that straightened, umpire Asad Rauf raising his finger late, after a few tense seconds. Sreesanth, who virtually worships “Lillee sir”, looked up to the heavens, that was it. Lunch. West Indies 72 course, there’s still a long way to go for this perky cricketer with that “old” action — he actually limped out of one spell after lunch and if the injury acts up again, he may have return to India. But those few minutes probably meant a career was saved. The West Indies were battling at 158 for three by tea.With the seamers, except Sreesanth, failing to strike, Lara’s men would be thanking their guardian angels that India had opened a window for them before match itself, by deciding to “rest” Harbhajan. The game may go any way in the last session. Which way? C’mon, you’d have known by now.To Pathan, from RobertsThe number of ex-cricketers, and even a psychologist, who have been involved in Operation Irfan Pathan in the Caribbean has just increased by one — Andy Roberts. At the Antigua Recreation Ground, Team India coach Greg Chappell got Roberts to track Pathan’s run-up, and the West Indian legend is understood to have passed on some tips. But will Pathan play in the next Test starting June 10 at St Lucia? That’s the big question.
