Anyone who is used to watching India at cricket just knew it had to happen. Javagal Srinath produces his finest performance in India colours since the last tour of South Africa only for the batsmen promptly to give up the ghost. If Srinath's shoulders are a bit droopy tonight, few could blame him. After bowling his heart out to keep South Africa down to 362, he then had to sit in the pavilion and watch as the batsmen proved that you don't have to be wary of Indians bearing gifts. The cliché goes that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. And to be brutally honest, Srinath's bowling in the one-day tri-series was of the ageing canine variety. Too often pitching it woefully short, he lacked the enthusiasm, consistency and variation to be any sort of threat. Luckily for India, the repertoire of tricks was enhanced prior to the Test matches.

Funny how much difference a couple of extra yards can make to a man's fortunes. That was always Srinath's problem - a chronic tendency to drop it short at the slightest provocation. On pitches like the WACA, it might be a worthwhile gamble. But on more placid surfaces - and against batsmen who love to pull - it's asking for a caning.

So far in this Test Srinath has rarely displayed a masochistic streak. On the contrary, he has bowled quite beautifully. The rhythm is back as is the pace and bounce. And for a change, his slip fielders took their chances - Laxman in particular pouching two outstanding catches off his bowling. His spells on the first day kept India in with a shout after Herschelle Gibbs had threatened to run away with the match.

There was no great secret behind his improved display. He kept the ball up to the bat and relied on the batsmen to make the mistakes. The bouncer was sparingly used and that added to the shock value. Nantie Hayward, who copped one on the helmet grille, would testify to that.

Pollock was his first victim this morning, driving a full delivery straight to Virender Sehwag at point. And just when it seemed like the tail might add to India's frustrations, it was Srinath who came back to apply the finishing touches. Makhaya Ntini's wild heave was taken in the deep and Hayward didn't have a clue about the straight one that knocked back his middle stump.

A month ago, Srinath resembled a geriatric mastiff, all bark and a bite that couldn't serrate paper. Now, having gone back to basics, he has a new spring in his step - gamboling in like an enthusiastic puppy. And as South Africa discovered, the new incisors are pretty sharp. A small juicy bone of consolation for millions of Indian supporters whose worst fears of another starvation tour were confirmed today.

Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden.com India.

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