da dobrowin： Zaheer Khan is straining at the leash
Rajesh Kumar16-Sep-2001Zaheer Khan is straining at the leash. “I am fully fit andraring to bowl in South Africa, where conditions arefavourable for a medium pacer,” he told the Press Trust ofIndia in Mumbai.The 22-year-old left-arm pacer has come up against the SouthAfricans only once before. That was in an ICC Knockout matchin Nairobi when he bowled five overs at them. He though isconfident that he can sort out his opponents with help fromhis coach John Wright. “I have not got any opportunity tostudy them, but our team coach will help me with this.”Zaheer feels if that knowledge is then backed up by “bowling aperfect line and length”, he will definitely end up being oneof the Indian success stories on the helpful tracks there.The right sound bytes indeed. The glitch though is that inrecent times no Indian fast bowler has got that last bitright. Precision bowling still is the domain of the ShaunPollocks and Glenn McGraths of the fast bowling world.Zaheer though is a game trier and that rarest of Indianrarities – a fast bowler with loads of attitude. A modestyoung man, he is also very disciplined and open tosuggestions.He is presently getting himself in shape for his first tour ofthe land of Springboks by following the training programmelaid out by Indian physio Andrew Leipus. He will also bespending time with ‘Pace Guru’ Dennis Lillee at the MRF PaceFoundation in Chennai.The three years that Zaheer had earlier spent at theFoundation played a significant role in getting him hisinternational break. It was under Lillee’s guidance that hebecame the “fastest in the land” and it is not surprising thathe still swears by his guru. In fact, up until now he was theonly Indian pacer who regularly visited the Foundation.The latest visit should help. For after his stunning debut inthe ICC Knockout, Zaheer has struggled on the unforgivingwickets of the sub-continent where India have played most oftheir recent matches. Twenty two wickets in eight Tests at anaverage of 38.69 doesn’t make for flattering reading. A sevenwicket haul in the second Test at Kandy in Sri Lanka thoughindicated that he might be regaining his rhythm.What the man from Baroda will now need to rediscover are thosespearing yorkers which first marked him out as a bowler ofpotential. He must also learn to be consistently intimidatingas a bowler. Inconsistency has been the bane of Indian cricketfor long and the young man will do well to avoid getting intothe rut.If he can set the savannahs on fire in the next couple ofmonths, Zaheer Khan will return as the hero of a nation ofbillion people. For a man who will celebrate his 23rd birthdayon October 7, that surely is one mega present worth going for.