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The more I bowl, the better I get: Zaheer

By Harish Kotian in Dhaka
May 27, 2007 19:42 IST

Four batsmen had already scored centuries and sitting down in the pavilion, watching their feat, even Zaheer Khan would have not guessed that Bangladesh batsmen would surrender so tamely.

But the first ball that he bowled in each innings, he got a wicket, both times Javed Omar was the unfortunate batsmen.

The left-armer finished with a match haul seven wickets for 88 runs as India won by a convincing margin of an innings and 239 runs and Zaheer was deservedly named the man of the match.

"The conditions here were very difficult, very hot and humid. But the wicket was two-paced, the odd ball was keeping low at times with the new ball, which helped a lot," he said.

Zaheer took five wickets for 34 runs in the first innings, his first five-wicket haul after a gap of nearly three years and his delight
was obvious.

His last five-wicket haul was against Australia in Brisbane in December 2003.

"Yes, I am very happy to get the five-wicket haul. It was very important for me because it has been a long time since I got one. I used to feel about it a lot, so today when I got it, I am delighted," the 28-year-old admitted.

Zaheer also recalled how difficult it was for him personally, when he was dropped from the team at the start of last year.

"The important thing is bowling well. Obviously I didn't play for India for the last eight months or so and South Africa was my comeback series. I was looking forward to it. In between, I had a rough phase where I was getting injured pretty frequently. I think I have done well to get out of it and I am just looking ahead from here," he said.

The left-armer said he is trying to maintain his fitness and rhythm as India approaches a busy schedule ahead.

"As far as cricket is concerned, I always try to give my best and look to focus on the next week or the next month. We are playing a few one-dayers before the start of the England tour, so obviously the focus will be on those matches. There is also a camp before that. I will try to keep myself fit and maintain the good rhythm that I am in right now."

He also praised debutant Ishant Sharma, who managed just one wicket in his first Test, but impressed everyone with his pace and discipline.

"He is very promising. It's a very good thing that a lot of fast bowlers are coming up. If you look at Ishant, he is 6.6 [height] which is a very good thing for a fast bowler if he is tall and is able to bowl such a disciplined line and length. I am very impressed with him."

The pacer also admitted that it was a help in having a bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad available to guide them.

"It is always good to get some help. Sometimes you miss out a few things or even during a match if someone can come up with an idea or some point which you have missed it can help a particular bowler or the team eventually. So I think it's a good thing."

Zaheer, who played 47 Tests so far, believes that more he plays, the better he gets.

"My bowling style is such that the more I bowl the better it is for me. This is what I have learnt from experience and I have tried to play as many matches as I can and try to keep my body in a good rhythm and try to maintain it," he signed off.

Harish Kotian in Dhaka

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