Munaf Patel asserts he is no one-Test wonder

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) Apple of his captain and coach's eyes after his impressive debut in Mohali, India's new found pace hope Munaf Patel is determined not to vanish in the wilderness as a one-Test wonder.

The 22-year-old pacer from Gujarat, who represents Maharashtra in Ranji Trophy, had explosive Kevin Pietersen as his first Test victim while he also accounted for rival captain Andrew Flitoff in his debut Test which saw him bagging seven wickets.

''The wickets helped fast bowling and getting Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen's wickets in the first innings was very special, he said.

''Now I want to play and perform for my country for as long as I can,'' the pacer told the BBC.

Munaf caught coach Greg Chappell's eyes with his control of line and length besides the ability to reverse swing the ball and his 10-wicket haul against a stronger England side for the Board President's XI opened the door for him.

And lady luck also smiled on him as Munaf was asked to share the new ball in the Mohali Test after the original choise, S Sreesanth, was ruled out of the match with viral fever.

Munaf has honed his skills at the MRF Pace Foundation under pace guru Dennis Lillee and chief coach T A Sekhar and the pacer says he is indebted to the foundation.

''I think my stint at the Pace Foundation helped me immensely in improving my skills as a bowler,'' he said.

Though Munaf is already acknowledged as the fastest bowler in India, TA Sekhar believes the youngster would further improve his pace.

''I am sure by the end of this year he is going to cross the 150km/hour (93 mph) mark,'' Sekhar said.

''When he first came to the Academy he had the height and the build and the pace, but had a mixed action and his run-up was not smooth.

We worked on a few things - his fitness, changed his bowling action and his running technique,'' he recalled.

Happy with the way the youngster is shaping up, Sekhar said, ''He used his reverse swing and yorkers effectively and I think it was just the right time to bring him into the Indian team.'' ''He will be a great prospect for India on their forthcoming tour to the West Indies,'' he added.

Member of India's 1983 World Cup winning team and former pacer Madan Lal also believes Munaf is a long time prospect.

''He has the potential to get wickets and I think experience will make him an even better bowler. India can now surely count on him,'' he said.

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