Almost immediately after the national anthems of India and South Africa rolled across the Kingsmead Stadium, Team India walked out in a bunch with Munaf Patel in the middle. Suddenly, he stopped, turned and signalled to the dressing room — he had forgotten his cap. Maybe, he should have remembered to bring out some of his pace too.

On the first day of this series, much before India sunk to a miserable defeat, Munaf popped up as one of the question marks that the team will have to answer quickly before the jitters settle down and both teams shift gears for the 45-day drive that lies ahead.

Of course, our batsmen will have their own answering to do after their collapse, in the team meeting, and then out in the middle against the Safs pacers as the series rolls on. But was that really a surprise on one of the fastest pitches on this planet? It's when you look ahead, much beyond this series, even the World Cup, that you begin to ask the real question: is Munaf Patel a strike bowler, or a stock bowler?

After touching 140 kmph to rattle the West Indians with 14 wickets in four Tests just four months ago, the extremely private 23-year-old has been working on a line-and-length blueprint around the off-stump. At least, that's what he has suggested in recent team meetings, though some veterans don't really agree.

Today, the Indian bowlers didn't allow the Safs to explode off the blocks — except for some last-minute fireworks from Andre Nel — thanks to Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Dinesh Mongia and even Sachin Tendulkar who was turning his arm over after nine months. Despite Jacques 'King' Kallis' superbly crafted 119 off 160 balls.

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