Fitness and injury problems to the more experienced new-ball bowlers may have paved the way for Ishant Sharma to get into Team India for the tour Down Under, but very few will actually question his selection.
To be fair to the always enthusiastic and hard-working Delhi medium-pacer, he fully deserves the recognition, having already toured England without figuring in a single Test.
"It's nice to see a bowler hit the deck hard. He has the pace and bounce. He could be handy in Australia," said Geoff Lawson, the former Aussie speedster and current coach of the Pakistan team after Ishant's impressive performance in Pakistan 's marathon first innings in the third and final Test in Bangalore.
After Ishant's five-wicket haul and Lawson's comments, it was a foregone conclusion that his would be one of the first names to be penciled in for the Australian tour.
The promising young pace bowler tells Haresh Pandya he is mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming challenge Down Under.
How do you feel about your selection in the Indian for the tour of Australia ?
I'm simply delighted, obviously. At the same time, I know it's always a big challenge to play and perform against a very strong team like Australia in Australia and in front of its crowds, who love and understand the game well.
So how prepared are you for the "big challenge"?
I'm fully prepared, mentally and physically, just like the entire Indian team, to take on the Australians. Our confidence is on a high after the Test series win against Pakistan. I, for one, am really looking forward to bowling on the Australian pitches, which are more conducive to fast bowlers.
Though you were among the probables for the Australian tour, were you sure of getting a berth in the final squad of 16?
Yes, I was always confident of making it to the Australia-bound party. Most certainly after I took five wickets in Pakistan's first innings in Bangalore.
How do you assess your performance against Pakistan?
It may not be a great performance, but I think I did a fairly decent job. After all, Pakistan has a strong batting line-up packed with a few highly experienced batsmen. Importantly, the Chinnaswamy Stadium wicket was more batsmen-friendly and there wasn't much of a help for quick bowlers in it. So, taking into consideration these factors, I think I bowled pretty well and remained a bit successful, too, in terms of figures.
You are very young and things have begun happening pretty regularly for you in terms of opportunities and achievements -- Bangladesh and England tours with Team India and now the Australian jaunt. When exactly did you start playing cricket with a fair degree of seriousness?
You might not believe, but I started playing serious cricket at the age of 16. I had never ever dreamt that I would progress thus far and in such a short time. Manvinder Singh Bawa told me I had the makings of a good cricketer. He said I should play serious cricket and advised me to join some club. I've learnt most of my cricket from my coach Shravan Kumar. He thinks I'm a good bowler and he always advises me to work hard because success doesn't come easily.
You seem to have tremendous stamina as you never give the impression of getting tired even after bowling marathon spells. How much do you practise?
I practise a lot every day. I bowl and bowl in the nets -- at least two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening -- in addition to all the regular physical exercises.
Does your family have any link with cricket?
No. No one in my family has ever played cricket. I come from a totally non-cricketing family in terms of playing.
Where do you study?
Right now I study in Ganga International School, Delhi. I played cricket just for past time after I did my 10th Class. I never expected I would play like this and at this level. Why, I even thought that if I played, I would have to stop my studies and all.
Have you always been a fast bowler?
Yes, I'm always a fast bowler. I've never bowled anything else in my life. Fast bowling comes quite naturally to me.
Who has been your idol as a fast bowler?
I've always idolised Glenn McGrath. He is a truly great fast bowler with supreme command over line and length. I've never tried to copy McGrath or any other pace bowler. I think no one can bowl the way McGrath does.
You are 6ft 4in tall. You must be making the most of your great height when bowling
I'm still gaining my height! Of course, I do use my height when bowling. It's an advantage to have a good height, I think. It enables me to get a good bounce.
Yes, Zaheer Khan helped me a lot on the tour of England. He gave me some very good tips to improve my bowling. Our fast bowling coach, Venkatesh Prasad, also was very encouraging. They praised my bowling and advised me to make the maximum use of my height. They told me to bowl consistently well. Venkatesh Prasad told me how to grip the ball and all and how to use my left-hand. Both gave me valuable tips and advised me to always stick to the basics.
You are still a raw youth and have miles to go. Which particular areas in your bowling need a bit of improvement, in your opinion?
I'm pretty happy with my bowling and I really can't single out any one particular area that probably requires improvement. But I always strive to be a better bowler. I work very hard on my bowling. I think if you play more cricket, you are bound to learn more. So experience and exposure are the keys. In cricket, or in any other walk of life for that matter, nobody can say he or she is perfect. The more you play, the more you improve. It's as simple as that.
Which do you think are your strong points as a bowler?
My height, my line, my length. I bowl on the good length spot. My bounce, my in-swinger -- all these have enabled me to be what I'm today.
Do you plan your dismissals sometimes?
Yes, quite often. But it depends. I also try to bowl according to the wicket. You've to plan your strategies depending on the strong and minus points of the batsman as well as the nature of the wicket.
Are you aggressive? Is it necessary for a fast bowler to be aggressive?
I think it's necessary to be aggressive. If you aren't, you can't perform.
Do you believe in sledging?
To me, sledging is perfectly all right if practised in a limited way. I think everything is fair in the game.
Have you found certain batsmen difficult to bowl to?
No, so far I've never found any batsman difficult to bowl to. I enjoy bowling and don't mind bowling to any batsman.
Have you set any goals for yourself?
No, except that I want to do well in Australia and justify my selection in the Indian team. Basically, I believe in the present only and don't think too much about goals and all. Nor do I think too much about future. I tend to believe more in the present and not to worry about future. I'm a man with a positive attitude.
You came very close to joining Team India in South Africa late last year after Munaf Patel sustained an injury. The team management even sent an SOS for you when you were playing for Delhi against Saurashtra in Rajkot. It was, of course, not to be in the end, as they decided against sending you after you had made all preparations. Did you feel disappointed and frustrated?
No, it was neither disappointing nor frustrating. Such things happen. They're part and parcel of life, I think. In fact, it showed that I was being noticed. It also meant that the team management and selectors had faith in my ability even though I wasn't much experienced at the time. So I was naturally happy about it. But eventually I was picked in the Indian team for the Bangladesh and England tours.
You did not get to play for India in England. Subsequently you were not selected in the Indian team for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa. There was no place for you in the one-day series against Australia at home. So how did you feel?
I never thought too much about all that. I just kept performing in domestic cricket and was hoping that I would get another opportunity to play for India sooner or later. I was convinced those bowlers preferred to me were better than me. They did well and India won the Twenty20 World Cup. So it was a nice feeling. And when I got my chance, in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Bangalore, I grabbed it.