He is not out-of-the-box, he doesn’t have a doosra, but his 10-step trundle to the wicket, the classic loop and dip, and variations in pace have revived the magic of traditional spin bowling. Even the legendary Erapalli Prasanna says so.

Mumbai’s Ramesh Powar says it has all to do with his last year’s stint in minor county cricket—rather, the wickets he didn’t take there. That was the turning point, he says, because he realised the importance of variations in pace. Then came some valuable ‘‘tips’’ from Prasanna and the 27-year-old was on a roll, leaving the English batsman groping.

Consider these two classic dismissals:

• In the Faridabad one-dayer, he drew Flintoff down the pitch and beat him through the gate to get him stumped

• In the same match, Strauss, coming down the wicket, aiming for a drive is beaten by the dip and gets stumped (3/39 is his best so far)

Says Powar: ‘‘After my return from minor county before the season started, I knew I had a problem in hand. Then, in the Irani match (he picked up seven in an innings), the slow wicket at Karnail Singh Stadium was a good experience, my variations in pace worked. Now, I am a more confident and changed bowler.’’

It’s a turnaround that has former Indian greats applauding from the sidelines. Says Prasanna: ‘‘What’s so good about him is that he tosses the ball up and invites the batsmen to play the stroke. He is much more attacking in that sense, whereas Harbhajan tends to bowl quicker.’’

... contd.