Today’s Hindu carries a report on Munaf Patel in which Dennis Lillee says “India should use Munaf Patel as an attacking option instead of a corridor bowler.“
What the report does not say is that if Munaf Patel, who bowled so well in the West Indies in India’s series of the Windies in 2006, develops even more as a corridor bowler, India will have a McGrath in its ranks!
Lillee claims that Munaf can bowl at speeds of 140 kmph regularly.
I had a brief look at Munaf Patel in yesterday’s aborted game in Kolkata. He seemed fitter than he was in South Africa. He picked up 2 wickets, bowled at a brisk average pace of 135-136 kmph touching 140 kmph at times.
Now what I do not understand is that if Munaf bowls consistently in the corridor and at brisk speeds of 135 kmph and above is it not an attacking option? What is this attacking option Lillee is talking about? Charge in and bang the ball on all the unresponsive pitches, get hit all over the place and get thrown out of the Indian team?
Sanjay
It is an attacking option indeed and attack as they say, is the best form of defence.