‘Munaf spinning the ball’ - Aakash Chopra comes out in support of the fast bowler
The Indian Test side’s discarded opener, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MM-Patel-c1987, and said that he has lost pace because of the conditions in India, which are not conducive to fast bowling.
Chopra was replying to the comments made by former West Indian legend, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Anderson-Montgomery-Everton-Roberts-c44213, who said recently that ‘Munaf is spinning the ball…”
In his article for a sports website, the former batsman said that it is not an easy job to bowl fast in the Indian conditions, which are not favourable for fast bowling, to say the least.
Akash revealed the story of Patel’s emergence and said that he was in the liking of national selectors and the team management even before he made his first-class debut.
Chopra wrote, “I saw the first of Munaf when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/John-Geoffrey-Wright-c67883 called him for a nets-session during an India camp in Bangalore, in 2003. At the time Munaf hadn't played first-class cricket.”
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gordon-Muchall-c1499 to the former’s surprise and disappointment.
The 27-years-old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Huzefa-Mohammed-Patel-c63657 burst into the International scene back in 2006 and impressed one and all with his speed and bounce. However, injuries got the better of him and now he is seen to rely solely on line and length to contain the batsmen.
Munaf used to concentrate on speed and reverse-swing at the start of his career, but with the passage of time, the fast bowler modelled his bowling on the Australian legend, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Glenn-Donald-McGrath-c60183, who used his accuracy to astounding effect.
Chopra emphasized on the difficulties faced by fast bowlers in India, saying, “Fast bowling is a gruelling job in slow Indian conditions. How do you keep yourself motivated when the ball bounces twice before reaching the wicketkeeper? And when regardless
of how fast you bowl, the batsman always has enough time to get behind the ball.”
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