5 funny on-field incidents involving Sreesanth

The temperamental pace bowler is gearing up for a return to cricket after charges against him related to the IPL spot-fixing scandal in 2013 were dropped by a Delhi court on Saturday.He is an enigma of sorts with his perceived attitude problems more often than not clouding his abilities with the ball in his hand. He has had run-ins with the opposition batsmen with his over-the-top send off’s, his trysts with the match officials and has not always been eye-to-eye with his fellow teammates either (read 'Slapgate').The Kerala lad, who is now 32, has divided opinions based on his on-field behaviour, but to those who see the lighter side of things, Sreesanth has been badly missed. I am sure Sreesanth's well wishers and fans can't wait to see their favourite return to on-field action and perform his best. The same applies for the others who are waiting to see whether they'll still get to see more of the headline-grabbing actions that have made him such a unique cricketer. Here's a look at five of the best such incidents from Sreesanth's eventful career so far.

#1 Appeal (or dare I say pleading) against South Africa, 2010/11)

Sreesanth bowled well in the 2006 series, but failed to replicate it in 201

Sreesanth picked up 18 wickets in the 3-match Test series in 2006/07 enhancing his reputation as a match-winner. But by the time of his next tour to the African nation four years later, Sreesanth had been making the headlines more for all the other reasons.

Four wickets in the first two Tests had done little to alter that reputation, but he came back with a bang in the deciding Test match at Cape Town.

He picked up five wickets in the first innings to help India bowl out the hosts for a score of 362, one his side were able to better by a margin of two runs. With a rare opportunity at an overseas Test series win in the offing, the situation looked ideal for Sreesanth to stake his claim.

It was Harbhajan Singh however who ripped the South African top order picking up four wickets and they were struggling at 98/5. But Jacques Kallis defied the odds to save the Test match for the hosts. The legendary all-rounder who made a century in the first innings as well repeated the feat this time around as well.

In the process, he induced the following moment of frustration from Sreesanth as he failed to pick up any wicket in the second innings. He ended up being remembered for his incessant appeal against Kallis more than his excellent performance earlier in the match. What's more, he did it not once, but twice.

#2 Impromptu dance after hitting a six in reply to Andre Nel\'s sledging

A sight which no Indian fan can ever forget

Sreesanth was part of India’s squad that toured South Africa during the 2006/07 season and it resulted in one of his most memorable performances for the national team. The fast bowler was adjudged the Man of the Match as India won the first Test against the Proteas at the Wanderers, Johannesburg. But it is this moment of unbelievable madness that’s still talked about.

Sreesanth had found his match in the host team in the form of Andre Nel. The tall fast bowler is not one to shy away from a duel, much like the Indian pacer and when the duo came head to head, it resulted in one of the most unforgettable celebrations in cricket history.

With Nel bowling to last man Sreesanth, the South African was trying his best to upset the tail ender’s rhythm with some talk which for sure got the reaction he desired – but not in the way he hoped.

Sreesanth let the bat do the talking as he came down the track and lifted the full-pitched bowl over long-off for a six before breaking into an impromptu dance.

The Indian fans will for sure hold this crazy moment much in the same breath as Venkatesh Prasad’s duel with Aamir Sohail during the 1996 World Cup match and the expression on Nel’s face after it – Priceless !

And Sreesanth’s reaction to the incident? – "It just happened. I myself wondered when I saw it (later on TV).”

Well, it’s not the only time he has made us wonder with his antics, is it?

#3 Send-offs to the Australian openers - World T20 2007

Unique send-offs to both openers

You just can’t keep Sreesanth away from South Africa, can you?

The fast bowler was a vital member of the Indian team led by MS Dhoni that clinched the inaugural T20 World Cup held in South Africa in 2007. Millions of Indian fans had their heart in their mouth when Misbah-Ul-Haq attempted a scoop off Joginder Sharma's bowling in the final between India and Pakistan.

Sreesanth, fielding at short fine-leg took the catch after a little fumble to seal a place in that moment of history. His greatest contribution, however, came against his fiercest enemy Australia in the semifinal.

He castled the stumps of two of the biggest hitters in world cricket – Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden and broke into a euphoric celebration, after dismissing the latter. Coming at a crucial juncture in the match, that might not have gone down well with the Aussies but sure evoked much passion among the Indian faithful.

The Indian bowler who winded up the Aussies throughout the match his pitch slapping and eye-balling was however fined 25% of his match fee for his excessive appealing.

#4 Infamous celebration after dismissing Andrew Symonds in 2007

Got hit all around the park by the big man which resulted in this celebration

India and Australia have been involved in some ugly contests over the years and Andrew Symonds have been an ever present in much of those duels but it was Sreesanth though who created a ruckus on this occasion with a wild celebration after dismissing the all-rounder.

Sreesanth and Symonds were never the best of friends and had a number of run-ins throughout the series. This one was certainly the most embarrassing one as he kept going on with his tussle in a way which could have been very well avoided.

Playing in front of his home support at Kochi, the pacer didn‘t crown himself in glory after he hurled the ball in the air after taking the return catch of his own bowling. He went on to clutch his fists, gritted his teeth and wrenched his face. Symonds, not surprisingly, was not amused.

He drew in much flak for the incident from various quarters but didn’t mend his ways as the duo were involved in an off-field altercation as well in another match in the same series, only this time Sreesanth was not even in the playing eleven!

#5 Shake it! Pakistan vs India, 2005/06

This was the celebration

Sreesanth has a colourful life outside the cricket field. He’s an ardent music lover and is a part of an upcoming Bollywood movie. But his greatest love is undoubtedly dancing.

He stepped on to his dance shoes very early in his career, this time in 2005/06 with a peculiar body shake after picking up a return catch to dismiss Pakistan opener Imran Farhat.

India had already wrapped up the series after winning three of the first four one-dayers and Sreesanth was definitely in a party mood after breaking the opening partnership. He went on to claim three other wickets and was the pick of the bowlers and was denied a MoM only by a brilliant match-winning century by Yuvraj Singh.