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Terrific Combination

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Terrific Combination
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The honour for limiting Sri Lanka to 178 in the final goes to Srivastava. His 3 for 33 had the Lankan top order reeling. "He’s a terrific prospect," says Yashpal Sharma, his state coach. "The only genuine swing bowler I have seen in India in a long time." Srivastava’s forte is the ball that swings into the right-hander. "He’s not very quick but has the ability to move the ball both ways," says Binny. The strapping, 6’ 1" bowler from Allahabad had a five-month stint last year with Dennis Lillee at the mrf Pace Academy in Chennai. Now, his follow-through is complete and he rolls his wrists better at delivery point. Srivastava, though, has to build up strength in the upper torso and arms to feel comfortable in the company of Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad.

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His partner from Varanasi, Tripathi, is more modest. He makes up for his lack of height by concentrating on outswingers and line and length. "Tripathi is handy but has to focus better on where he pitches," says Sharma. "He can develop because he’s a quick learner." Last year, Lillee told him to get more chest-on if he wanted to bowl faster. Tripathi did not agree. "I walked out of the mrf academy then and there," he says. "In India you have to be side-on and get the outswinger going if you are to get wickets." Native wisdom which an Aussie won’t comprehend.

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Strengths: Unsettling variation, can move the ball both ways.

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