Indian cricket, famed for its spin magicians, can nowboast of having the fastest bowler in the world, albeit in the women's versionof the game.
Jhulan Goswami, who bowled India to its maiden Test series victory on Englandsoil last week, can work up a pace which can go up to a maximum 120 km per hour.
Not content at becoming the first Indian woman ever to claim 10 wickets in aTest -- a feat she achieved in the second and final game at Taunton where thevisitors coasted to a five-wicket win -- Jhulan now wants to compliment herspeed by fine tuning her line and length.
"Glenn McGrath is my idol. I idolise him for his consistent ability tomaintain an impeccable line and length. He can bowl such long spells, and isalways dot on. He is like a bowling machine. I only hope that one day I'll beable to bowl like him," says the 23-year-old pacer, being rated as the newstar of Indian cricket.
The 5-foot-11-inch tall girl, who hails from a family of modest means fromChakdah (80 kms from Kolkata), dreams of the day when she will meetMcGrath.
"But I don't know what I'll tell him then or whether I'll ask for sometips," Goswami said.
Simple and straightforward in her words and thoughts, Jhulan's cricketingphilosophy is also uncluttered, as was apparent when she analysed her success atTaunton.
"I only kept in mind that we have to take 20 wickets to win. I bowledwicket to wicket consistently. I got the breakthroughs whenever my captain (MithaliRaj) handed the ball to me."
An avid cricket fan since her childhood, Jhulan started playing the game withthe boys and girls of her village when she was merely seven years old.
"I loved to bowl. And I had to bowl fast as the boys would otherwise notlet me hold the ball," she reminisces with a chuckle.
As a child, Jhulan was fond of Kapil Dev.
"But by the time I started playing and became a serious student of thegame, he had already retired. And from then on I have idolised McGrath. Amongthe Indian bowlers, I like Javagal Srinath.
"In fact, I'll give more credit to Srinath, because he took so many wicketsbowling in tough Indian conditions. But still, McGrath is special forme," she said.
Among the batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar is her favourite. "I'll definitely liketo bowl to him. If I can get his wicket, that will be great."
After the initial years at Chakda, Jhulan came to Kolkata to hone her skillsand trained with a south Kolkata club Pathachakra.
"Swapan Sadhu spotted me and brought me to Kolkata. He is still mycoach," said Jhulan, who works as a commercial supervisor with Air-India.
Apart from her exploits with the cherry, Jhulan can also wield the willow instyle, which is evident from her healthy 30 plus average in Tests. However, theplayer regards herself not as an all-rounder, but as a "bowler who canbat".
In ominous form of late, Jhulan has earned back-to-back woman-of-the-matchawards in her last three Tests. But she feels, that the awards are onlyincidental.
"Whenever I play, I just want to keep performing. If in the process I getsuch awards, it's fine."
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PTI
