Indian coach Greg Chappell has indicated that paceman Munaf Patel
might not be considered for the second cricket Test against South Africa
as the team would like to field the same bowling attack that earned them the historic
victory at the Wanderers.
"We're hopeful (about Munaf's fitness). Munaf is now bowling
again. He bowled for the second or third time yesterday and getting better by
the day. We will be in a better position to know what his fitness is closer
to the event," Chappell said.
"I was quite happy with our attack in this game (Wanderers)
and we do have to go in with that same attack, I am not going to be too disappointed.
If Munaf is fit and ready, he would certainly come in under the series consideration,"
he said about the second Test at Kingsmead on December 26.
Chappell said the Haryana seamer's fitness would be closely
assessed in the practice game and would not be risked by rushing him back into
the team.
"We can get him to ball two or three spells in the practice
game and that would give us a much better idea. But as I commented earlier about
managing these guys, if there is the slightest doubt when we get to Kingsmead,
we'll make sure that whenever he next plays, he'll be a 100 per cent fit. He's
too important to us in the medium to long term to risk short term benefit,"
he said.
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