Javagal Srinath, one of India’s greatest fast bowlers, turns 50 on 31 August. Throughout his career, the former India player picked up 315 wickets in 229 ODIs and 236 wickets in 67 Tests.
Srinath is the ninth highest wicket taker in Tests and second highest wicket taker in ODIs among Indians.
On his birthday, here’s a look at five of his brilliant bowling performances of his career.
1. 6/76 vs South Africa, 2nd Test (2001)
After India lost the first Test of the series, they needed to get off to a good start in the second Test in Port Elizabeth. And leader of the bowling attack, Javagal Srinath provided just that.
Srinath first dismissed Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis to reduce South Africa to 87/2. He came back later to dismiss dangerous batsmen such as Lance Klusener and Shaun Pollock, before wrapping up the tail.
The pacer finished with incredible figures of 6/76.
2. 8/86 vs Pakistan, 1st Match, Asian Test Championship (1999)
Javagal Srinath recorded his best figures in Tests in the first match of the Asian Test Championship against Pakistan in Kolkata.
After picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings, Srinath maintained his intensity in the second innings as well.
He single-handedly decimated the middle order, picking up Ijaz Ahmed, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Saleem Malik’s wickets.
He ended up with figures of 8/86, helping India to restrict Pakistan’s lead to 278 runs.
3. 6/21 vs South Africa, 1st Test (1996)
South Africa may have felt that they had the Test in their bag after they were set a low total of 170 runs in the first Test in Ahmedabad. But Javagal Srinath had other plans.
In the first over of the South African innings, he dismissed Andrew Hudson and Daryll Cullinan, reducing South Africa to 0/2.
Later in the innings, Srinath sent David Richardson, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald and Paul Adams packing, helping India to record a historic 64-run victory.
4. 3/80 vs Australia, 2nd Test (1998)
Javagal Srinath couldn’t have given a better start to India in the second Test against Australia in Kolkata in 1998.
He sent Michael Slater and Greg Blewett back to the pavilion in two consecutive deliveries in the first over!
Thereafter, he trapped Mark Waugh LBW in the seventh over, reducing Australia to 15/3.
Australia could manage a total of only 233 runs in the first innings.
5. 4/35 vs 2nd Match (ODI), Singer Cup (1996)
India managed just 199 runs after they decided to bat first in the second match of the Singer Cup against Sri Lanka in Singapore. It was Javagal Srinath who put his hand up yet again.
The fast bowler quickly dismissed the top three batsmen – Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Marvan Atapattu, and Sri Lanka were reeling at 23/4 (Venkatesh Prasad got the wicket of Aravinda de Silva).
India kept chipping away with wickets thereafter, and eventually wrapped up the match by getting Pramodya Wickramasinghe run out in the end.
India won the match by 12 runs.
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