Vadodara: Team India biomechanist Ian Fraser on Monday expressed satisfaction over Irfan Pathan’s current form, saying the seamer had found his rhythm back.

“Irfan seems to have got his bowling rhythm back. The break from international cricket and the fact that he has bowled close to 70 overs for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy seems to have benefited him,” he said.

Fraser assessed Pathan, who joined the squad as the 16th member for the fourth and final one-dayer against the West Indies, and Munaf Patel, nursing an ankle injury, after their net session at the IPCL ground.

Pathan was recalled midway through the tour of South Africa and asked to play domestic matches to regain his rhythm.

Fraser said: “The best way to get back to form would be to go back and bowl in a natural manner which he did today (Monday).

“His run-up looked fluent and his action was smooth. There was fluidity in his motion,” he said after the team’s optional practice session attended only by captain Rahul Dravid and opener Robin Uthappa.

Fraser, however, said it remained to be seen how much rhythm Pathan would be able to maintain during the match here on Wednesday.

“How he translates this rhythm in the match remains to be seen. India lack a genuine allrounder and Irfan has the potential to become one,” the Australian said.

On Patel, Fraser said the right-arm paceman, who looked unfit during the Cape Town Test after his return from a long injury-induced hiatus, seemed to be slowly slipping into a groove, though he bowled off a shortened run-up.

“He would need three or four days but he’s moving more strongly,” Fraser said.

On Dr Anant Joshi’s remarks that Munaf’s ankle injury had healed but it was doubtful whether he was fit, Fraser said it happened to sportsmen at times. “He’s not played much cricket in the past and the pressure to perform at the international level is different,” he said.

The West Indian team, too, had an optional practice session, which was held under overcast conditions.

It started to drizzle when the players were winding up and became stronger late in the evening once the sessionwas over. (PTI)