Ishant Sharma, from a Joke to Hero at Lord's

New Delhi: When Ishant Sharma toured Australia he was just 19. He caught the eyes of cricket fans for his with long hair and jagling necklaces and of course his unusual height not associated with Indians.He made his test debut against Bangladesh and later toured Australi in 2007-8. He got the chance to be in the playing eleven in second test at Sydney because Zaheer Khan got injured. He grabbed the opportunity with both the hands and made life hell for Ricky Ponting in the third teat at Perth with pace, accuracy and menace.He was so impressive in that tour that one began to think if India India had found its first quick bowler since Kapil Dev. But in subsequent years he proved to be a huge disappointment. He developed no consistent away swinger to complement his natural in swing towards right-handers, and picked up a serious problem bowling no balls. There was no increase in pace - if anything, he got slower.The relationship soured and even turned abusive, as Ishant became the biggest butt of jokes in India. He was ridiculed for “services to Australian sport” when his team were whitewashed Down Under.By the time he was selected for this English tour the old love had crossed that fine line into hate, with several observers incredulously questioning how someone with a bowling average over 37 could have somehow won 55 Test caps and still be in line for more. But with speed, aggression and a huge amount of heart, Ishant not only blew away the England batting line-up with seven for 74 in the second innings at Lord's but also won back his place in the affection of Indian folk.Ishant probably played the biggest role of all in what could rank as India's greatest ever victory away from home soil.They had no right to win the second Test, and take a one-nil lead in the series, after being put in to bat first on a pitch that was as green as the outfield.Ishant was at the forefront of implementing this simple discipline which helped push India into a winning position on the final day. And then, with England's last recognised batsmen threatening to tilt the game back in their team's favour, came the most remarkable act of all in this fascinating Test match. Having been told by his captain to abandon his traditional line and length, Ishant bowled bouncer after bouncer. England accepted the bait and - one after another - hooked and pulled the ball to the hands of gleeful fielders standing in the deep.It may have been a collective suicide on England's part, but huge credit is also due to Ishant. In baking heat on a fifth day pitch and with an 80-over old ball, he banged the ball in short with relentless energy and passion.In his last seven overs he took five wickets for 27 runs and won the match, using tactics very rarely associated with an Indian bowler. He outdid the English at their own game. It turned out that the final match-winning strategy was actually down to the skipper MS Dhoni, who admitted he coaxed a reluctant Ishant into following his wishes by setting a field that gave him no option but to bowl short.Indeed, Dhoni's innovative thinking throughout the match – can anyone ever remember a wicketkeeper standing several yards back to a spinner? - provided a sharp contrast to the ponderous captaincy of his beleaguered opposite number, Alastair Cook. Dhoni and Ishant are the only members of this team who have played Test matches in England, and they are doing an excellent job of guiding their inexperienced team-mates.