The brief hiatus from Test cricket hasn't added too much zest to his bowling, but it seems to have revitalised Javagal Srinath the batsman. His 46 at Kolkata was his third 30-plus score in consecutive Test innings – the first time in his 67-match career that he has managed this.

Srinath's batting held early promise – he averaged almost 23 after 20 Tests – but it had spiralled downwards at an alarming rate lately. In the last 23 Tests before this series, stretching back three years, he had scored a mere 125 runs at an average of 5. During this period, he managed eight ducks in 25 innings, had a top score of 18, and passed 10 only seven times (click here for complete list).

These figures would have been inadequate even for a No. 11, but with Srinath coming in as early as No. 9, it meant India's tail started ridiculously early. Srinath's form with the bat in this series has ensured that the tail has contributed usefully in every innings.

The runs with the bat seem to do his bowling some good too. In 14 innings when he has come back to bowl after scoring at least 20, Srinath has taken 33 wickets at 26.42, including two five-wicket hauls – an improvement over his career bowling average of 30.22.

S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com in India.

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