When Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad took over India’s pace bowling responsibilities, in England, twenty-five years ago, the scene was euphoric, also ecstatic. The Karnataka duo happened to team up, true to their home-bred, natural proclivity, to unleash what was, arguably, India’s most effective new-ball attack, at that point in time.
The capable twosome could just as well afford to call a spade a spade and respond with good effect, and pace, ball after ball, wicket to wicket. In the process, they also became a much-respected, at times ‘feared,’ bowling pair. The allegory was imminent. One conjured up a vision of a pace bowling combine destined to serve India, with honour, pride, depth, and effect, for a long time to come, unless the Indian selectors, in their glorious wisdom, goofed up things for the ‘Brahminical’ duo.
Things began to change — for the good. As the two made inroads, forcing the opponent to go on the ‘back-foot,’ the entire cricketing world sat up and began to take notice. Something incredible had happened. India had, at long last, produced decent quickies that could make the ball jump, zip, and zoom, to unsettle the best of batsmen.
So far, so good. Yet, the larger dimensions on the canvas of glory were not really looked into. Srinath, the ‘Mysore Missile,’ and Prasad, the ‘Bangalore Holler,’ were on their ‘gentle rampage,’ yes — improving their capabilities, armoury, and skills, with every match. As their two-piece orchestra created a classical melody, rattling the furniture behind the batsmen, India’s opening burst of creativity was also on song.
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