Munaf throws down gauntlet, picks up first 10-wicket haul

For Munaf it’s all part of the slings and arrows he’s faced ever since first coming into the public sphere three years ago. At that time, the man from Bharuch hit the headlines for his instinctive ability to rip through the batsman’s defence with his sheer speed.

Then he went off the radar, a combination of injuries and poor management taking their toll. ‘‘It was a tough couple of seasons before this one’’, Munaf told The Sunday Express today. ‘‘The season before this I was injured and it was really frustrating. And the one before that I had a few technical problems, which I needed to work on. I just couldn’t hit the right areas.’’

He went to the MRF Pace Academy, where he changed from being a raw quickie to someone with genuine long-term talent. ‘‘It was disappointing when I was down with fitness problems. I had to come out of it quickly and Dennis Lillee kept egging me on…he’s been a great support throughout.’’

Today, he’s a new bowler. His slingshot action is out; now his arm comes straight over his head with a perfect follow-through. The result: 34 wickets for Maharashtra this Ranji season.

And, of course, his first 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket today. The mode of dismissals clearly shows that he had the batsmen in a bit of trouble. Six batsmen were clean bowled, two were caught behind and one leg before. Incidentally, there’s some significance in Munaf talking to the media today. Maharashtra coach Darren Holder had given him specific instructions not to talk to the media unless he performs. He kept his promise and opened up only after having 10 in the bag.