Cricket: Lion proves himself with a roar

Ishant Sharma in action during his five-wicket haul. Photo / Getty Images

The question was put to the wise Indian scribe: "When did you last see Ishant Sharma bowl better than at the Basin Reserve yesterday?".

"Never", came the reply, followed by a slight qualification of a couple of other shining moments.

But the point was clear: the young man with the lion's mane has regained his roar, although Sharma believes it's been there a while.

"Maybe people have just started to notice that I'm bowling well because I'm starting to take wickets," he said.

Sharma was outstanding yesterday, albeit in especially favourable conditions, picking up his career test best figures of six for 51 from 17 overs.

He got bounce - as he should, given his height - bowled with verve and pace and found help from the green strip.

The point about the pitch was that often, when confronted with a sight to widen a seamer's eyes, bowlers lose the script. It took a short time for the Indian seamers to find their range. Once they'd located it, they didn't loosen the grip.

The ball to dismiss BJ Watling was a candidate for best of the day; and only the full toss which Tim Southee spooned to short mid-wicket was handed to him, rather than earned.

Sharma's return follows a fine test at Eden Park, when he took nine for 162 in the New Zealand victory.

Indeed something about New Zealand batsmen appeals to the 25-year-old from Delhi. His overall test record is 164 wickets at 36.5 each; against New Zealand he's taken 30 halfway through his sixth test at 20.1.

He may look like a young man who'd be suited to the glitzy wonderland that is modern Indian cricket. But evidently he's a low-key personality who doesn't go in for the standard accoutrements of Bollywood actress on the arm and flash car.

When he arrived in New Zealand Sharma needed to prove himself. Yesterday's showing might come to be seen as the display which sets up a series-levelling victory.