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| SRINATH: Doesn’t
seem keen on continuing |
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| PATEL: Unlikely to
make another request |
Calcutta: Just where Jawagal
Srinath stands, in relation to Team India, should be clear
early next week when the veteran speedster has a one-to-one
with chief selector Brijesh Patel.
Indications are that Srinath,
who took back his Test-retirement seven months ago, will
quit both forms of international cricket.
“Srinath and I will be having
a chat in the next few days, in Bangalore, before he leaves
for Durham… Let’s see what Srinath says, but he has indicated
he doesn’t wish to continue,” Patel told The Telegraph
Thursday evening.
In the city for a National Cricket
Academy meeting, Patel hinted he won’t do a repeat of last
September — requesting Srinath to make himself available
for both forms.
[It was at Patel and captain Sourav
Ganguly’s behest that Srinath played in the Test series
(at home) against the West Indies, after initially having
made himself unavailable for Test cricket anywhere.]
“Look, fast bowling takes a lot
out of the cricketer in question… It’s so very demanding
and…” Patel didn’t say anything more, perhaps because he
has prepared himself for the end of the Srinath era.
Sourav, by the way, has already
announced he won’t be making another request.
Srinath, for his part, has been
maintaining he needs “more time” to actually decide on his
future. It’s not insignificant that he made himself unavailable
for the tri-series in Dhaka, beginning Friday.
Yet, the next few months will
see Srinath based in Chester-le-Street (Durham’s HQ) as
one of the overseas pros — the other being South African
Dewald Pretorious. Besides sharing the new ball, he will
be the youngest County’s bowling coach.
Srinath’s contract, of course,
is till Australian Martin Love (currently in the West Indies)
becomes available. It’s possible, though, that the bowling
coach bit in his contract will be extended.
Incidentally, over 11 years of
big-time cricket has seen Srinath collect 236 wickets in
(67) Tests and 315 wickets in (229) ODIs. He turns 34 in
August.
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