Troubling Jayasuriya

If there's one seat that gets you the best view of the action, it is the place right near the boundary ropes. This area is occupied by the ball boys who return the ball back to players once it crosses the boundary so that play can resume without much wastage of time. Ball boys are generally budding cricketers and are chosen from local coaching camps.

While most ball boys are satisfied with autographs and photographs, we spotted one eager player Lalchand - a nets bowler for the Mumbai Indians who was making most of the opportunity. The young pacer saw his fortune catapult at the prospect of bowling to one of the most destructive batsmen in the world - Sanath Jayasuriya.

"I could not believe my eyes when Sanath Jayasuriya stepped on the practice pitch where I was supposed to bowl," says Lalchand animatedly. And was he nervous at any time? "Yeah I was, initially but started with some good length deliveries and he was effortlessly creaming me with his drives."

Lalchand later reveals the biggest moment of his life. I decided to surprise him and bowled a short one. It bounced considerably and hit him on his chin. He never expected it from a nets bowler like me."

The Matara Mauler has spared no bowler the world over and this must have hurt his ego if not his chin though. "Yes, the next ball I bowled to him disappeared in the stands," the cheeky bowler says with a grin on his face.

He also had a brief interaction with Shaun Pollock who passed on some of his tricks which he mastered over the years to the youngster. "I could only swing the ball one way, he taught me to do it both ways." Lalchand could not have chosen a better venue to implement what he had just learned. "The next day, were the selection trials for Mumbai U/19 team and I decided to try that out. It came good and I am hoping to get picked for Mumbai."

If this wasn't enough, he somehow made it to Sachin's nets the next day where the master blaster was busy setting up the bowling machine. "I completely froze when I saw Sachin next to me. There were just three of us - Sachin, Rajput sir and me. I was gathering the balls and handing them over to Rajput sir who in turn was putting them in the bowling machine."

This is indeed a special moment as Sachin, who still follows conventional training methods seldom practises with the bowling machine.

Lalchand signs off by saying that all this is done to get into the Mumbai Indians team for the next season and one person who can make it possible is the one with whom he shares his name, Lalchand Rajput, the coach of Mumbai Indians.

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Sajiv
Posts: 20

IPL king of Sixes
Reply #1 on : Mon June 02, 2008, 11:04:51

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We are really grateful for the wonderful batting display by Master Blaster Sanath jayasuriya. It was a magnificent entertainment and we were luck to see our two legends you & Tendulcar opening batting together. So Sri Lankan Cricket also should realize that Jayasuriya needs a good opening partner to be himself at the wicket. Yaa.. Jayasuriya you are the IPL king of Sixes

sadham
Posts: 20

real blaster
Reply #2 on : Mon June 02, 2008, 16:39:22

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yea man u are rally a blaster though u got more than 400 ODI,s Still u are the king of blasting cricket world. welldone mumbai selectors. santh we need u more in criket world.keep up your blasting aproch u are a legend in my view

Dilan - Srilanka
Posts: 20

Age is not problem
Reply #3 on : Tue June 03, 2008, 05:22:52

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Sanath jayasuriya is the Highest Sixes are plyed in the IPL Tournament. i think he is most Successful batsman in the Mumbai Indians team. He played really excelent good cricket in the Tournament.

his age over 38 now but he is the only man has powerful hits all over the ropes in ground and i think he is only players hit one or more Sixes in each match ?

Doni and suchin not play rearlly good cricket ? they are face lot of trouble int tne Tournament?

ali kezar from india galiakot rajsathan
Posts: 20

mr. sixer
Reply #4 on : Tue June 03, 2008, 09:25:29

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sanath
mr sanath ...i dont have word to describe u...every one knw u , hw u hit the ball in ipl against kolkatta ..wow i never forget that match and i never forgot u
thnks for given us this type of intertenment

chiko srilanka
Posts: 20

real master blaster
Reply #5 on : Wed June 04, 2008, 02:11:04

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sanath u r the king of sixer and also u r the real master blaster 1996 u and kalu gave lot of joy 4 us unforchunaly kalu rtd but u stil playing 4 us.plz sanath brother do not rtd until 2011 world cup we ned u world ned u,ipl gave lot of fun plz sanath same fasion tryd 2 play futcher,plz try 2 make nother sanath and kau and mawan

chamath krishmal
Posts: 20

sanath is the best
Reply #6 on : Wed June 04, 2008, 02:28:10

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im a under 17 cricket player from Sri Lanka im a very big fan of sanath jayasuriya. the boy who bowled him a bouncer must be a reaaly tallented one.

Nipun
Posts: 20

very Good Sana
Reply #7 on : Wed June 04, 2008, 10:25:54

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very Good Sana.wonderful batting

HUMZA
Posts: 20

love
Reply #8 on : Wed June 04, 2008, 13:42:53

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well the thing is taht sanat has a ability to continue the cricket and .no one to play like as sanath jaysuriya cricket .AND his sixes is monster .buy the way sanath is sanath he play very well thx .

Himal Rajapakse
Posts: 20

Sana!
Reply #9 on : Thu June 05, 2008, 01:25:30

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You Played very well at IPL. We are glad to see your batting skills.Keep up your good work every day.....

RINEE
Posts: 20

Re:
Reply #10 on : Thu June 05, 2008, 01:42:52

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YOU,RE SHOT IS VERY GOOD . I LIKE YOU.

M.Saad
Posts: 20

Ball Cracker
Reply #11 on : Thu June 05, 2008, 06:15:43

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any one cant explain how you played those stong sixes in IPL. Thanks a lot for you

sameera
Posts: 20

master blaster
Reply #12 on : Thu June 05, 2008, 06:29:46

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no comments 4 ur batting SANA,u r doing a wonderful job 4 sri lankan cricket.u hd gone bake 2 1996 n keep it.v love u very much

thusitha
Posts: 20

GOD OF SIXERS
Reply #13 on : Fri June 06, 2008, 05:28:47

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sanaaa you are the GOD OF SIXERS

Sachithra_Sri lanka
Posts: 20

Hav u ever notice
Reply #14 on : Sat June 07, 2008, 03:13:59

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Sanath the king of sixes,master blaster n probably the best hitter of all time.bt hav u ever notice his team effort n genuine personality which make him a man with life . n whenever his team goes up he cheers like child .with all da barriers against him he is still rising as a person who loves cricket more than his life.there is nor 1996 world cup if wasnt sanath neither sri lankan cricket.sri lankan cricket is nw there bcoz of him,his sudden provoke.sana ,no matter who troubles u should b there as long as u can

FAZEER
Posts: 20

master blaster- sanath
Reply #15 on : Sun June 08, 2008, 06:02:35

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You did sri lanka proud at the IPL and you are the most dangerous one day opening batsman produced all time ,need you for sri lanka cricket at least for the next two years.

habib zamath
Posts: 20

sri lankan lion
Reply #16 on : Sat June 14, 2008, 15:04:19

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iam very exited about his batting performance. all in all he is the master blaster

devini hansamala
Posts: 20

love
Reply #17 on : Tue June 17, 2008, 05:50:34

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i love you santh

Sanjeewa
Posts: 20

Great Sanath (Sri Lankan King)
Reply #18 on : Tue June 17, 2008, 11:18:32

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Sanath is arguably the words best one-day batsman ever seen. And most feared batsman by the bowlers all over the world. What you done in IPL made us proud, and love to see you in this mood in upcoming ASIA cup.

You have made all Sri Lankans proud and I’m more proud than others because you are from my place MATARA. Keep doing good work Sanath Ayya.

Balawal Chaudry
Posts: 20

Super JAy
Reply #19 on : Wed June 18, 2008, 14:13:00

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Jay in his full flow is the best striker of the ball. Areal treat to watch years after years.

nadeera kaushika
Posts: 20

geniune match winner
Reply #20 on : Fri June 20, 2008, 15:00:34

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when we knew mumbai Indians have a match we will never forget to watch it because of your wonderful batting style. though some sri lankan batsmen score centuries they cannt managed to win the match but you only with a fifty will guarantee the win. you are great cricketer to watch..