Nehra, Ishant should be strike bowlers: Srinath

Former spearhead Javagal Srinath said young pacer Ishant Sharma should be the strike bowler for India with Ashish Nehra in the absence of injured frontline speedster Zaheer Khan.

Former spearhead Javagal Srinath on Friday said young pacer Ishant Sharma should be the strike bowler for India with Ashish Nehra in the absence of injured frontline speedster Zaheer Khan.

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Brushing aside concerns that the gangling Delhi pacer was not in his elements, Srinath said, "Ishant is still a strike bowler. Ashish (Nehra) and Ishant should lead as strike bowlers in the absence of Zaheer. Ishant has good attitude and fitness."

Sharma, who has taken 52 wickets in 18 Tests and 42 wickets in 30 ODIs, has grabbed only five wickts while conceding 210 runs in the last five ODIs that he played in New Zealand and West Indies.

In three Tests this year in New Zealand the 21-year-old bowler claimed eight wickets while giving away 334 runs.

Srinath, who was in Mumbai to conduct a two-day seminar for domestic match referees ahead of the season, also said the other Delhi pacer, 30-year-old Nehra, was a good substitute for Zaheer who is unavailable till the end of the year.

"Nehra is a good replacement for Zaheer," said the Bangalore stalwart who is on the seven-man ICC match referees panel.