<TD width="100%"> <CENTER><TABLE borderColor=#026697 height=484 borderColorDark=#026697 width="98%" borderColorLight=#ffffff border=1><TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=13>Name<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=13>Shanthakumaran Sreesanth<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=286 rowSpan=9><TABLE width=120 border=0><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #e1ca8c 1px solid" align=right bgColor=#99cc00 height=25> <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=18>Nick Name<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=18>Sree, Gopu, `The Prince of hat-tricks',<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Profession<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Cricket player, aspiring poet<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Date of Birth<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>February 6, 1983<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=13>Birth Place<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=13>Kakur, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=13>Languages Known<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=13>Malayalam, English, Tamil, Hindi<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Education<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>* Choice School, Kochi & Florence Public School, Bangalore * Studying psychology <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Family<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Father: Shanthakumaran Nair (a retired Life Insurance Corporation of India officer) Mother: Savithri Devi (Treasury department official) Brother: Dipu Santhan (runs a music company in Kochi) Sister: Nivedita (Television actress in Kerala) Brother-in law: Madhu Balakrishnan (play back singer) <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Cricket<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Batting style: Right-handed Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium Clubs played: India, Asia XI, Kerala, Kerala Under-19s <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Cricket Debut<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Test debut : India v England at Nagpur - Mar 1-5, 2006 ODI debut : India v Sri Lanka at Nagpur - Oct 25, 2005 Twenty20 Int. debut : South Africa v India at Johannesburg - Dec 1, 2006 <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Working <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>as an assistant manager with Bharat Petroleum when not playing cricket.<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Coach<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Dennis Lillee<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Guru<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Pratyachch Mishra<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Favorites<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Diety : Ganapati Spot : Sri Krishna Temple at Guruvaiyur Singer : Michael Jackson Books: 'Art of Fast Bowling'. 'Sunny Days', 'Why not you' Sports: Football, Table tennis, Hockey Leader: Dr.A.P.J.Kalam Sportsperson: Lance Armstrong, Allan Donald Author: Agatha Christie <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Hobbies and interests <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>* Avid reader, never misses newspaper articles also * Dancing. * Can draw portraits, sing well and write poems <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Religious artifacts in his room<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Crystal Ganesha, Lord Krishna, Sai Baba, the Bible and an Arabic prayer book<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Inspiration <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Dipu Santhan, his brother who played cricket at the university level.<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=23>Guide and mentor<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=23>P Shivakumar (Ernakulam Cricket Club president)<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Cricket training<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>* Ernakulam CC. * MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>'Jago India'<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>The song was written by him and sung by his brother-in-law singer Madhu Balakrishnan for an album 'Desh'<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Fame<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Wanted it badly because he feels that this recognition is priceless.<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>His characteristics<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>* Always wears a blue wristband on the field. * Carries a laptop with him and would like to watch the footage of the good balls bowled by him. Never worries about the bad balls. * On-field antics always catches the media attention and always a topic for discussion <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Superstition<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Whenever he is out playing he asks his mother to light the lamp before the deity at home. Also insists the lamp should not be put out till the play is over.<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Brand Ambassador<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Muthoot Group<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Car<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Honda City Civic Coupe DX, <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>The name of his home<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Taj<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Break dance<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>He was the winner of the South Zone Boogie Woogie competition in 1995.<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Facts<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>* Played a lot of tennis ball cricket in his young age * Was the sports captain of Florence school and led the football, badminton, hockey and cricket teams. * In an inter-school competition of Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan he won the player of the tournament award. * His first break came at 18, when he was selected to attend the MRF Pace Foundation. He went to Australia as part of an exchange programme with Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy. * Initially a leg-spinner-cum-opening batsman inspired by Anil Kumble. Later, he decided to become a medium-pacer. *The colony where his home is located, was renamed Sreesanth Nagar. Now it is back to Kailash Nagar as most of the people were not happy with it. * Once when he wanted to meet Tendulkar he was stopped by a security guard. He managed to bluff his way in, saying that Tendulkar had paid for his scholarship. * Received an anonymous card 'Believe in your dreams. Don’t keep dreaming.' The lines are now imprinted in his heart. <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=21>About him<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=21>Mother: "Cricket is in his blood. I knew he would be a sportsman. His mannerisms were like one. And all he wanted to do was play cricket." Brother: "I always encouraged him. I knew he has this passion for the game. He was a very determined boy. I think the best thing about Sree is that he set his goals very high from day one." Sister: "He is a god-fearing person. I think he has made it because of his deep faith to Guruvayurappan. " Moin Khan: 'This lad has the ability to go a long way and serve his country with merit and distinction.' Javagal Srinath: 'What impressed me most was his attitude' Coach: "I knew he would make it to the big league one day. Now the time has come. I am sure he will perform great. He is here to stay in the Indian cricket team." Himself: "I am a tidy person and I iron my uniform before every match." <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Records<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>* He is the only Kerala bowler to have taken a Ranji Trophy hat-trick against Himachal Pradesh. * Is the second person from Kerala next to Tinu Yohannan to be in the Indian cricket team. * He is one among the few bowlers who got selected for the Duleep Trophy in their first season. <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Philosophy in life<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" bgColor=#ffffff borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>"Heads on shoulders. Feet on earth."<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Success mantra<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>Three D's in life, dedication, determination and discipline, are crucial for his success. Of these, he values personal discipline the most. <TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="22%" borderColorDark=#026697 height=19>Quote<TD borderColor=#026697 borderColorLight=#ffffff width="58%" borderColorDark=#026697 colSpan=2 height=19>"Aim higher and success will follow. Do not be content, and get stagnated with your own performance but aim higher to do better." </CENTER> Courtesy: Web Resources Compiled by: PS and Gayathri
