It was not very surprising to see Manoj Tiwary all over the place in the only ODI he played against Australia in Brisbane. The rookie Kolkatan landed just a day before he was asked to face the furious Brett Lee. He managed only two before Lee yorked him.
"It was the fastest bowling I have ever faced," Tiwary told HT during the Deodhar Trophy. "It was my mistake. I was given an opportunity to show my talent but did not make the most of it.”
Tiwary did not get another opportunity. "The one-and-a-half months with the team in Australia were helpful. Sometimes it can be tough not getting to play but I am sure my time will come.
"Tips from Sachin (Tendulkar) helped me and will put them to use whenever I get another chance.”The 22-year-old shot into prominence during the 2007 Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai with a solid 94.
"That final was the turning point of my career," said Tiwary. "To perform in front of my idol Sachin and against top quality bowling (of Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Ramesh Powar) for the first time was a good experience.”
His induction into the Indian team was fateful. A shoulder injury during practice in Bangladesh forced him to return home even before the series had begun. “Sometimes I think why it should happen to me. But then, God has been kind to me, giving me money in the form of IPL contract (with the Delhi Daredevils). I was certain that I'd have made it to the Indian team for Ireland and England and the T20 World Cup had I not got injured."
{{/usCountry}}His induction into the Indian team was fateful. A shoulder injury during practice in Bangladesh forced him to return home even before the series had begun. “Sometimes I think why it should happen to me. But then, God has been kind to me, giving me money in the form of IPL contract (with the Delhi Daredevils). I was certain that I'd have made it to the Indian team for Ireland and England and the T20 World Cup had I not got injured."
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