Mom in tears as Sreesanth strikes

Sreesanth is the first Kerala cricketer to play an international match not only in the state but also in his hometown.

She sat quiet and a bit tense as the India-England cricket match played out in front of her on Thursday.

HT Image

Then an England batsman was declared out, the face creased into a smile and tears welled up as the proud mother watched son S Sreesanth take his first international wicket in his hometown.

The pace bowler's mother Savithri Devi, a Kerala government official, and his father anxiously watched the play unfold from the VVIP box.

It was only after Sreesanth took Mat Prior's wicket and she removed her glasses to wipe the tears that those sitting around realised the couple were the bowler's parents.

Photographers clicked the couple, behind whom were sitting four former Kerala cricket captains T Sivadas, A Satyenderan, OK Ramdas and Ashok Sekhar.

"Life is like that. Last year, Sreesanth was bowling in the nets when India played Pakistan here. On the evening of the match, he was running from pillar to post trying to get a pass to see that match. And look at where he is today," Sivadas said.

Indeed, Sreesanth has the honour of being the first Kerala cricketer to play an international match not only in the state but also in his hometown.