Swing + speed + height + desire = Ishant Sharma -> Itsonlycricket, is only cricket!

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Swing + speed + height + desire = Ishant Sharma

Filed under Player Profile

For a long time till not too long ago - Indian cricket had failed to produce a true fast bowler who could hurry top level batsmen. Indian idea of new ball bowling, for a long time, had been to swing it rather than send it down at very fast speed.

Not any more.. here's Ishant Sharma. India's 255th test cricketer, the Delhi speedster made headlines after bouncing, hitting and beating Ricky Ponting for 8 straight overs in only his 3rd test match at Perth before he finally got Aussie Captain out in the 9th over. Height of almost 6 and half feets, Ishant is yet to celebrate his 20th Birthday (born September 22, 1988) which means that he'll grow even taller in days to come.

Ishant Sharma is easily the fastest bowler in Indian cricket team these days, bowling consistently over 140kmph & promising to touch 150 kmph given the conditions & fitness. and talk fitness - cricket fans around the world would be surprised by Ishant's ability to bowl Marathon spells - 7-8 or even 9 overs in one go..

He's a lean fast bowler who looks even thinner cause of length of his body. Talk ability as bowler - Ishant is a very quick learner too. In just his 4th test match - Ishant started to outswing (in addition to his natural inswing to right handed batsman) & then showed glimpse of reverse-swing as well. He bowls a typical good length, not short enough for batsman to pull neither up enough to go for cover drive.

It's Ishant's unbalanced follow-through which scares me most, tangling badly in the long legs of his after he deliveries every ball. Hopefully India's bowling Coach Venkatesh Prasad and new National coach Gary Kirsten would help him make his bowling follow-through more swift for him to negotiate injuries in future.

Another aspect I admire about Ishant Shamra is his desire to play cricket at highest level. Before he was selected for Indian cricket team - I'd read some interview of him where he said "I know I'm not good enough, as yet". Son of Air-Conditioner repair shop owner in Delhi - Ishant knew he had to enhance himself before wearing that Indian cap. Forget movies as well - Ishant says he's more interested in spending time with friends and cinema doesn't attract him one bit.

Now as he takes giant steps forward as Indian cricketer (fast bowler with some batting talent), Ishant Sharma has already got brand endorsements deals with Reebok and plenty of other multi-national companies are queuing up to sign Ishant for almost 35-40 Lakhs for a deal.