| Former India pacers Subroto
Banerjee and Javagal Srinath believe Yadav can only get quicker and will
make the most of the conditions on India's upcoming tour Down Under
Rookie fast bowler Umesh
Yadav has played a big part in India's dominant position in the ongoing
second Test against West Indies at Eden Gardens. The strapping lad has
match figures of four for 59 with India just seven wickets away from bowling
out West Indies for the second time in the match.
Though Yadav is playing
only his second Test, he was earmarked by bowling coach Eric Simons as
a long-term investment when the previous team management headed by Gary
Kirsten met at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after India's early exit
in the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup.
Yadav travelled to Sri
Lanka and South Africa last year as part of the Test squad. In fact, he
was taken to Sri Lanka along with Jaidev Unadkat just for experience. He
was tipped to make his Test debut at Centurion against South Africa last
December when Zaheer Khan broke down. Unadkat, who got the final nod, failed
to strike on debut.
It was the fourth day
of that Test and South Africa were well on their way to a comfortable win.
Just as the hosts were preparing for the final rites, Simons (also bowling
coach of Yadav's IPL side, Delhi Daredevils) was working diligently with
Yadav at the Titans academy in SuperSport Park. Yadav repeatedly landed
the ball on the spot prescribed by Simons. |
