Melbourne, Dec 17: Four years after his eye-catching performance in this part of the world, Ishant Sharma is ready to have another go at the Australians in the four-match Test series starting on December 26.
“I have been waiting for this tour for a long time,” said Sharma, who has 128 wickets in 48 Tests.
Sharma is aware of the expectations as it was here when he first made his mark as an international bowler, dismissing then Australian skipper Ricky Ponting in both innings of the Perth Test.
“There are a lot of expectations from me because I had done a good job on my last tour there. I am charged up now. I have different plans for each and every batsman,” he said.
Sharma, 23, stands to either end the summer a wasted, injury-riddled talent or recapture the magic of a watershed 2007-08 tour Down Under where he found fame taming Ponting.
“I went on the tour as a raw bowler and returned a finished product,” recalled Sharma.
“People came to know me after that tour, they talked about my bowling and it had to be a positive experience for me. I am really excited to go back there again,” the Indian pacer was quoted as saying by the ‘Courier Mail'
Sharma came off the field twice during India's practice game against the Chairman's XI in Canberra yesterday but the Indian team management quelled concerns over his fitness.
If Sharma finds his bearings on the bouncy Australian pitches, it might spell trouble for the ageing Ponting who has not scored a century for more than 30 Tests now.
