http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lakshmipathy-Balaji-c72130 – A surprise inclusion in India’s World T20 squad
The BCCI selectors surprised the cricketing pursuits not only in India but also across the world, when they included experienced seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji, into their final squad for next month’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 Championship, to be held in Sri Lanka.
Balaji, the recipient of 30 ODI and eight Test caps, is one of the four seam bowlers in the 15-man squad, which also features spearhead pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashok-Dinda-c1098. One of the primary reasons behind his inclusion in the squad is his effectiveness in the death overs, and variation in slow deliveries.
Since debuting in international cricket in 2002, with a One Day International against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754, at Ahmedabad and has so far played eight Tests for the men in blue, claiming 27 wickets at an average of 37.18 and 3.43.
He has not played a Test match for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, at Colombo, had come in February 2009.
The 30-year-old Tamil Nadu pacer, who is yet to debut in the shortest format of international cricket, earned the national T20 call-up at the back of an impressive 2012 IPL season with the champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which saw him claiming 11 wickets from eight matches, at a startling economy rate of 5.40.
Balaji has credited his IPL success to mentor Wasim Akram and Australian ace pacer Brett Lee, who also played for King Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders in the lucrative Twenty20 league.
"http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 were big influences. It is not about the coaching tips they pass on, but just being able to rub shoulders with them and share their knowledge helps you understand what you need to improve your cricket," said the 30-year-old Balaji.
"That's what a matured cricketer will do. There is a lot to learn from them, you can learn about preparations for a game, about the conditions and about recoveries from injuries; the players who have been a part of international cricket for a long time will definitely have a better idea than you," he added further.
The Tamil Nadu seamer said that Indian Premier League is a wonderful platform for T20s, which provides the young players an opportunity to realise what mentally a cricketer needs in pressure situations in international cricket. He further added that the cash rich league teaches the players how to handle pressure and pass it on to the opposition.
However, whether he gets picked up in the starting XI or not come India’s World Cup opener against Afghanistan, on September 19, hangs in the balance. Experience of Zaheer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tamil-Nadu-c853 pacer low in the pecking order.
India, the champions of the inaugural T20 World Cup, held in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745, at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
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