The Hindu : Sport : Return of the versatile Munaf

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Wednesday, Aug 08, 2007
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Sport

Return of the versatile Munaf

S. Dinakar

Chennai: Munaf Patel has the ability to bowl effectively at any stage of an innings. He can achieve controlled movement with the new ball, can operate with precision in the middle-overs, and contain and strike with reverse swing at the death.

Once the selectors were convinced about Munaf’s recovery from a back strain, his return for the seven-match ODI series in England was on the cards.

Munaf has 26 wickets in 22 ODIs at a strike rate of 40.65, conceding 4.54 runs an over. The Englishmen will not have happy memories of Munaf. His three for 18 off eight overs — Kevin Pietersen was among his victims — was a match-winning effort during the ICC Champions Trophy clash in Jaipur last year.

By omitting Santhakumaran Sreesanth for the one-dayers against England, the selectors have sent a message to this talented but temperamental paceman: keep your emotions under check.

No surprises

The 15-member squad for the ODI series is on expected lines. India has the momentum in its favour after a 2-1 triumph over South Africa in Belfast but will need to address a key issue — the No. 3 slot.

The idea behind sending Gautam Gambhir at this position in Belfast could not be faulted — the think-tank wanted an attacking batsman during the Power Play in case one of the openers departed early. However, Gambhir’s returns of 0 and 5, and his mode of dismissals, suggested that he had a few technical issues to resolve.

Robin Uthappa might receive a run at No. 3 in England. The in-form Subramanium Badrinath is desperately unlucky to miss out again.

By picking them for the Twenty20 World championship in South Africa, the selectors have handed over a lifeline to Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan.

The emphasis here is on multi-dimensional cricketers, underlined by the selection of all-rounders Joginder Sharma, a paceman, and Yusuf Pathan, an off-spinner.

The wise men are seeking to manage the workload issue and this explains the resting of Zaheer Khan. However, the logic of fielding Piyush Chawla, a budding leg-spinner, in the Twenty20 format is open to question.

The spirited Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s elevation as captain is a positive move though.

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