After reading this http://www.espncricinfo.com/ranji-trophy-2013-14/content/story/704571.html article
Think Irfan Pathan should shift to bowling spin, viz orthodox. Would be a requirement for Indian team. At present specialist spinners are less effective, & all-rounders preferred as front line spinners, especially in away series. India’s next Test series is in NZ, where swing is effective. With his current form & availability of better bowler, Pathan would not make that tour. And chances of him representing India in any format in near future is very slim. Therefore @30 he can transform his bowling method, and become a spinner who at times can use the new ball. I can recall Colin Miller (former Aus Test bowler) immediately as a prime example. Funky as he was called, was a variable bowler Australia possessed. At times he would open the bowling(7 inns =15wkts, & always picked wkts in these inns). Interestingly at times he opened the bowling with McGrath, in spite having Gillespie & Lee in playing XI!.
Pathan is much better batsman than Miller, and Indians don’t have many left hander batsmen in their playing XI. Miller made his Test debut at the age of 34, & Pathan has played few Tests(last being in 2008)which is a good experience@age of 30 to start over as left arm spinner.
