Shalab Sriwastava is one of a breed rarely sighted in the Indian
sub-continent - left arm medium pacer. A tall lad who generates most
of his pace from a high arm action, Sriwastava opened the bowling for
the Indians in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka with great
success. Bowling from close to the stumps, Sriwastava relies on
nagging accuracy more than pace to pick up his wickets. He possesses
the ability to move the new ball both off the wicket and in the
air. Keeping the ball full, Sriwastava always makes the batsmen
play. This has gone against him on occasion when he has returned to
the attack to bowl with the old ball. Though his accuracy will always
hold him in good stead, Sriwastava needs to develop variations,
specifically a good yorker and a deceptive slower delivery before he
can become a force to reckon with at the highest level. That he topped
the wicket taker's list (14 wickets at 17.57 apiece) for India in the
Under-19 World Cup says quite a bit, for the tournament was played on
slow, turning tracks. Playing for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy,
Sriwastava should soon be knocking on the doors of national selection.
(Anand Vasu)
