Published 09:09 IST, October 25th 2019
Sreesanth returns to practice, uproots Sachin Baby’s stumps in nets
Sreesanth has already started his preparations for his comeback and he was seen doing his bowling practice in the nets against Kerala batsman Sachin Baby.
Indian fast bowler Sreesanth was banned for life on spot-fixing charges by the board in 2013, however recently his ban was reduced to seven years. He has not bowled in the past six years. The Kerala quick is expected to return to cricket after his ban ends in September 2020.
Despite being away from cricket for more than half a decade it feels there is still some cricket left in him. The testimony to this is a video that has been doing the rounds on social media where he can be seen bowling in the nets.
Sreesanth makes a comeback:
The 36-year-old has already started his preparations for his comeback and on Thursday, he was seen doing his bowling practice in the nets against Kerala batsman Sachin Baby. In the video, it can be seen that his bowling action has remained the same. Sreesanth was bowling to Sachin Baby in the nets when he bowled a fantastic inswinger against that went past the gap between the bat and pad of the batsman and shattered his stumps. He celebrated the wicket in exactly the same manner as he used to do in his playing days.
Sreesanth's cricketing career took an ugly turn after the spot-fixing charges against him. It is only recently that his life ban was reduced to 7 years, i.e. June 2020. The 36-year-old has played 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20 Internationals for India, claiming 169 wickets in all. He last played for India back in 2011. He was also a part of the World Cup-winning squads in 2007 and 2011.
Sreesanth, who will be 37 years of age by the time the ban ends next year, will be eligible to play cricket professionally and can be associated with the sport as a coach or mentor or TV commentator/expert in the future.
Updated 13:48 IST, October 25th 2019