It is that time of a net session when intensity is at its lowest. After trying to bowl in the right areas for an hour,the Indian bowlers are swatting the ball in all the wrong directions. Praveen Kumar is enjoying his agricultural hits and mishits when bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad marks his run-up and sends a rising ball to have Praveen caught and bowled. Prasad has a word with the pacer and soon the bat is straighter and those in the vicinity arent at risk from his aerial attacks. After his impressive debut in New Zealand and Ishant Sharmas injury,Praveen is certain to get the new ball. And since he is replacing all-rounder Irfan Pathan from the T20 team,polishing his batting skills is important. Even before Praveens 6-1-28-2 spell at Napier,he had a buzz around him. Even the best in the business have struggled against the bowler who moves the ball in high 130s in pace-friendly conditions. Though he has never played here before,he is a known name. Local journalists,recalling the pacers breathtaking show in Australia last year,join their middle and index finger and move it back and forth with the thumb protruding when they speak about it a common sign in cricket circles to describe a wily pacer who cant just cut the ball both ways but swing it in the air too. Since his landing,that goofy smile on his face has been a constant. All through the domestic season he had struggled with his bowling. Such was the frustration that,during the Ranji final,he went on record to say he had lost his swing. The national selectors didnt give too much importance to the lost swing and picked him for the Sri Lanka tour,where he did enough in three games to be picked for New Zealand. In the first match,Praveen troubled the New Zealand top four. His first over was enough to prove them right. After four dot good length balls to Brendon McCullum,Praveen bowled one slightly short and at greater speed. The top edge went to Harbhajan. Jesse Ryder too ballooned a similar ball. The dismissals brought back memories of the tri-series final in Australia where Ricky Ponting was out in similar circumstances.
