Kerala Express blowing rivals away

KRISHNAGIRI (Wayanad): The path treaded by Kerala's only two Test players so far - Tinu Yohannan and S Sreesanth - has given many budding youngsters over the years the aspiration to become a speedster in the state. And it is no coincidence that when Kerala enter Ranji Trophy semifinals for a historic first time, three pace bowlers are leading the charge.


Sandeep Warrier and Basil Thampi have emerged as possibly the most lethal opening bowling combo this season in the domestic circuit and MD Nidheesh has proven to be a more than capable first-change option. Sandeep and Basil have played all nine matches of this season so far, a testament to the work they have put in behind the scene to remain fit. More importantly, they have taken 39 and 33 wickets respectively. Nidheesh has been called into action in only four matches this season and he has not disappointed bagging 14 wickets.

Kerala played their first two matches of the season at the slow and low track at Thumba and it was when they went to Kolkata to play Bengal in the third match that the seamers showed they were a transformed force. Sandeep and Basil took seven wickets each to help Kerala beat Bengal for the first time. When they were off the boil a bit against Himachal Pradesh, Nidheesh stepped up and his six wickets in the first innings were vital in Kerala's dramatic entry into the quarterfinals.

What seemed like a reward for all the hard yards they had put in, they got a pitch that could be called a seamer's paradise at Krishnagiri for the quarterfinals against Gujarat and the Kerala pacers took full toll of it. Out of the 20 Gujarat wickets in their quarterfinal win, 19 were taken by the three pacers among themselves.

"More than the skill, it was the confidence that we got from bowling a lot more overs in the first few matches that helped us. We knew what he had to do when we got a wicket like this," said Sandeep who has added a potent inswing to his armoury through the course of the season.

"The three of us know what one needs to do at a time. If one bowler is going for wickets, at the other end, the other bowler will try to bowl restrictively. Playing a lot of matches together has helped us develop that understanding without communicating it verbally," added Sandeep.

Basil credits the work he has done at MRF Pace Foundation with coaches Glenn McGrath and Senthilnathan for his rise as a bowler in the longer-formats. "Before the season, I had a training programme in Australia with MRF Pace Foundation before the season and there I was bowling in seamer-friendly pitches and I learned the art of pitching the red ball up without reducing the speed and that has helped me take wickets," said Basil.

"Even before the match, we have been bowling in the nets just as if it's a match situation. Also, the faith shown by the captain and the coach has been immense," added Basil who finished with his career-best figures of 5/27 at a venue where he made his debut four years ago.

"I'm very happy for Basil. He has been working hard to keep himself fit and that has contributed to him bowling spells of eight or nine overs. Sandeep had a difficult last season. But this one, he has bowled extremely well and supported everyone," said Kerala coach Dav Whatmore.


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