India's quest for a genuinely quick bowler appears to have ended after Munaf Patel's fairy-tale run from the village green to a promising international debut.
Patel, 22, grabbed seven wickets on debut in India's second Test victory over England in Mohali, sharing the bowling honours with seasoned leg spinner Anil Kumble, who took nine.
He added three more scalps in the final Test in Mumbai, which England won by 212 runs to draw the series 1-1, and earned a spot in the one-day series starting on Tuesday.
"We've faced a few [fast] bowlers, so it's nice to have someone who can give it back," said delighted Indian captain Rahul Dravid after India's victory in the second Test.
The son of a small-time cotton farmer with rugged good looks, Patel has finally realised his dream -- to play for India and bowl fast.
Nicknamed "Lagaan" bhai by his team mates, he stunned English batsmen in Mohali, producing fast reverse-swing, yorkers and awkward bouncers, at times clocking over 90mph (145kph).
Lagaan, meaning 'tax', was an Oscar-nominated 2001 Bollywood hit film based on the story of a young man who leads a rag-tag cricket side to victory over a team of British colonial officials and wins his village an exemption from punishing farm taxes.
The film centres around a village in Patel's home state of Gujarat.
FIRST SCALP
Patel forced his way into the national team after capturing 10 wickets to hand England an eight-wicket defeat in a tour game.
His first test scalp was Kevin Pietersen, who was beaten by pace and swing to offer a return catch on 64, breaking a promising partnership.
Patel added two more wickets to restrict England in the first innings then struck three quick blows on the final day.
"I'm delighted to get seven on debut," he said. "I never get nervous. I don't bother about the pitch or opposition.
"Getting Pietersen out and ending the partnership, that was my best moment," he said. "It's special because it was my first wicket."
Patel's formal training began in 2002 when a friend of chief national selector Kiran More saw him bowl in a village game and took him to the former test wicketkeeper's academy.
"We used to have tournaments on my village ground," Patel said. "Initially all I wanted to do was bowl fast, then I realised the value of movement and line and length."
Patel had an awkward bowling action, but More saw his promise and sent him to Australian bowling great Dennis Lillee at the MRF pace academy in Chennai.
"We did a bit of technical adjustment on him," former Test fast bowler and academy director T A Sekhar said.
Patel's complicated action could have left him prone to injury Sekhar said, but the academy helped smooth out his action, producing the threat he is today.
UNCERTAIN YEARS
The youngster then bowled in a practice session at India batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who recommended him to play for Mumbai in the Ranji trophy, the leading domestic series.
"I played there for two years and got a lot of support," Patel said.
Still, he faced two uncertain years. A shoulder injury suffered in 2004 after slipping on the follow through sidelined him for five months.
Patel found he was being overlooked. Some experts felt he was over-rated.
However, Lillee and Sekhar were steadfast in their backing.
"In the five months I was injured I learnt a lot at MRF," he said.
Lillee put in a word to India coach Greg Chappell, helping Patel join newcomers Rudra Pratap Singh, S Sreesanth as part of an emerging Indian pace attack.
"Munaf has opened up the Indian fast bowling scene, taken it to a different level," Sekhar said.
"These type of bowlers are born. We can only guide them."
More thought the efforts by Indian selectors to tap pace talent were beginning to bear fruit.
"They are all a real investment," he said. "They can all go a long way."
Pace-starved India will hope Patel is a quick learner.
