S Sreesanth says his own expectations after a successful Test series in South
Africa may have resulted in a patchy performance in the recent One day
games against the West Indies and Sri Lanka. 
Sreesanth said in trying too hard to take wickets, he forgot
the basics and thus returned with expensive figures.
"The mistake I did was in thinking too much about taking
wickets (in the first few matches in India) after taking 18 wickets in three
Tests in South Africa. My expectations of myself became high that I am a match
winner and needed to get wickets," Sreesanth said.
"Maybe I was trying too hard. I was not bowling in the right areas and
instead was focusing more on getting wickets and went for runs.
"But now I have learned to think big and then lower my goals. That's what
I did and it's working. I am hitting the right areas. I am bowling pretty well
and I am confident."
Sreesanth, who said that he was going to Chennai to train for
a couple of days with Australian pace guru Dennis Lillee at the MRF foundation
before leaving for the World Cup, said playing in the mega tournament
would be a dream come true.
"I was not focusing on getting selected for the World
Cup when we were playing matches, but focusing on current things as was told
to us in team meetings. But definitely playing in the World Cup would be a dream
come true," he said.
"I am a beginner and in every game you learn a lot... In the last two
series, I learnt to bowl in the right areas and not worry about getting wickets.
I am in good rhythm and am sure will hit the right areas."
Sreesanth felt that studying the One day games on India's last
tour of the Caribbean in April 2006 would be very useful as part of the team's
World Cup preparations.
"Our last trip to the West Indies is very important. We
had a taste of the West Indian wickets. We can look at the videos of the One-day
games and it will be useful in our preparations," he said.
Sreesanth was also positive that the lengthy One-day diet that
the team had partaken of after returning from South Africa would stand it in
good stead.
"It's a good preparation for the World Cup and am sure we are going to
do well in the tournament," he said.
The youngster, only the second from his state to play international
cricket and the first to play in a World Cup, said whether he took wickets or
not was immaterial as long as his bowling contributed to the team's winning
cause.
"I will be very happy even if don't get any wicket. The important thing
is it (bowling) should help my team to win the game," he pointed out.
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