Young players need a mentor to handle fame and money: Sreesanth

NEW DELHI: With huge money and fame coming early in the career, young cricketers need a mentor to prevent them from going astray, according to pacer S Sreesanth.

"If you have a mentor or someone is looking up to you, with so much of money and entertainment involved, if there is one coach or family member, who actually keeps an eye on the player and if the player is ready to listen to them, you are alright. If you are talented and hardworking, nothing should bother you," said Sreesanth.

Discipline has been an issue with a number of Indian cricketers and few of them have been showcaused for a pub brawl in St Lucia after India crashed out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

The 27-year-old pacer said it was important for a youngster to know where to draw the line.

"Focus is surely important, but again everyone lives their own personal life as well. As long as he knows the thin line between foolishness and bravery, that is very important," said the pacer, whose volatile temperament has often landed him in trouble.

Dwelling on the Indian pacers' tendency to cut down on their pace, Sreesanth reckoned that it was probably due to their fear of getting hurt and the urge to prolong their career.

"Maybe the bowlers are planning to play in the long term, maybe 10 to 15 years instead of doing the job that is given to you," Sreesanth said.

"Maybe it's the fear of injury. It's always better to give your best every single day. I think that may be the reason - trying to conserve your energy for the next game than giving your best today," he added.

Sreesanth said performance is the only criterion for a player to keep his place in the side and pressure related to it can never be an excuse.

"Honestly, you need to be performing rather than complaining. There is stress and there is pressure, especially when you play in Indian conditions. It's actually tough to get on and start performing. It's a challenge for a fast bowler, especially in the Power-play of a one-day game, but you must endure those stressful moments," he said.