Watch: Sreesanth made his way into Indian cricketing folklore with an unforgettable bouncer to send Jacques Kallis, the then world No.3 Test batter, packing, during the 2010 Boxing Day Test between India and South Africa in Durban.
Years later, Sreesanth admitted that the series was a “make-or-break” opportunity for him, and the delivery is something he’d “always treasure”. The dismissal proved pivotal in helping India win just their second Test in South Africa: the same bowler had delivered them their first-ever win four years ago.
Bowling on a pitch that had started to show cracks on day four, Sreesanth was bowling to the pair of Kallis and AB de Villiers, who had got their eyes in, chasing a target of 303.
Off the second delivery of the 35th over, Sreesanth’s delivery to Kallis pitched on length and sprung up breathtakingly, spearing into the batter’s body as it rose. South Africa’s No.4 could only fend it away, jumping and arching back as the ball darted into his top glove and ballooned in the air. Virender Sehwag, at gully, held on to the easiest of catches.
“It’s taken off from nowhere,” exclaimed commentator Ravi Shastri. “It’s jumped at him like a spitting cobra.”
The celebrations were put on hold as the umpires checked Sreesanth’s front foot, but the green signal came out soon. As it turned out, the right-arm quick finished with the best figures in the fourth innings, returning with three wickets for 45 as India completed an 87-run win.
Watch the dismissal here:
