Wheel comes full circle for Yohannan family

Twenty-seven years ago T.C. Yohannan brought glory to the country when he won the gold medal in long jump at the 1974 Teheran Asian games.

And when it was announced Wednesday that his 22-year-old son Tinu will represent India in cricket, the wheel seemed to have come full circle for the sporting Yohannan family.

Tinu Yohannan became the first cricketer from Kerala to be selected for the Indian cricket team.

Yohannan says it was his bowling coach and mentor T.A. Sekhar, a former India speedster, who gave him the best piece of news so far in his life. "He called up and told me that I had been selected for the Indian team for the Mohali Test. The lanky fast bowler said 'Are you joking, sir?'.

"Honestly I just couldn't believe what sir told me. Even though I had hoped that one day I would play for my country, I never expected that that day would come this soon. Now that my dream has come true I am really happy and excited and I think I would be included in the playing eleven," Yohannan says.

Since Wednesday evening the telephone has not stopped ringing at the Yohannan residence in Kochi, some 185 km from here. Among those who called up to congratulate were state Chief Minister A.K. Antony and Sports Minister K. Sudhakaran.

The senior Yohannan says that the biggest advantage that his son had was his fitness and his dedication. The father has no regret that his son did not become an athlete like him.

"Tinu started thinking about cricket seriously after the South African side led by Hansie Cronje arrived in Kochi in 1998 and after seeing them he said to me that he wants to become a professional cricketer," says the proud father, whose long jump record of 8.07 meters at the Teheran games is still the best jump by any Indian so far.

And since then Yohannan's only ambition had been to play for the country. He debuted for Kerala in 1999 and till now has played six matches in which he has taken 19 wickets at an average of 25.94. He says his favourite performance so far has been his tally of four wickets in the Irani Trophy match against Baroda.

The senior Yohannan had a big contribution in his son's success. The father says he got his son admitted in a private college at Chennai so that he could pursue a better cricketing career there. The young cricketer soon got in touch with the MRF Pace Foundation where he learnt his lessons on the art of fast bowling from Dennis Lillee for almost four years.

"Yes, I owe everything to MRF Pace Foundation and I was determined that, after coming this far, I would give everything to the game. I am prepared to work hard, which I already am doing," Yohannan says. He puts in almost eight hours' practice a day.

Asked which of the two occasions -- the 1974 Asian Games and Wednesday's announcements -- was more happy, the senior Yohannan averted a direct reply, saying: "Cricket and athletics are vastly different. But I hope and pray that my son does well for the country."

Though Yohannan is hopeful of finding a place in the playing eleven, the track at Mohali traditionally favours spinners. The Indian selectors have picked three spinners. Besides, with medium pacer Iqbal Siddique coming up with a fine performance against the visiting English side at Jaipur in Rajasthan, Yohannan is likely to have a fight on his hands to get his place in the final eleven.

--Indo-Asian News Service

Mail Cricket Editor