Maturing Sreesanth savours new beginning

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Pace bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth's new-found maturity was the key to a superb spell that edged the team closer to a huge win over Sri Lanka in the second test, he said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old took five for 75 to claim his second five-wicket innings in a memorable comeback to the national team after 19 months away during which he had captured the headlines more for his boorish behaviour than his bowling.

Sreesanth finished the day with six wickets as Sri Lanka went down to 57 for four in the second innings after being asked to follow on, facing an innings defeat after the third day.

He was consistently fast and accurate on returning to Green Park where he played his previous test in April 2008, after coming in for the off-colour Ishant Sharma.

"I never thought I'd play for the country again," Sreesanth told reporters. "It is nice to start off again in Kanpur. All I can say is this is really the beginning."

His swing bowling helped dismiss Sri Lanka for 229 in the first innings before they slumped again. India made 642 after electing to bat first.

More mature
"I have started enjoying the game and today I focused on hitting the stumps, making the batsmen play every delivery was important," he said.

"I'm more mature. I used to get really irritated if I didn't get the fifth wicket."

Sreesanth had helped India win their first-ever test in South Africa in 2006 but his national team future was in the balance after a series of incidents.

Last year, he broke down in tears after being slapped by compatriot Harbhajan Singh when the rival players clashed at the end of an Indian Premier League game. Harbhajan was banned but Sreesanth was blamed for provoking him.

Sidelined by injury early this year, he had a stint with English county Warwickshire but was again in trouble BCCI threatened to suspend him from domestic cricket for an on-field clash with a rival player.

Sreesanth said ex-South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald, who was the Warwickshire bowling coach, helped him regain his focus.

"It was not easy bowling in July and August in England," he said. "He helped me a lot with my training, made me a little more professional."