Test today -- India look to history for reversal of fortune
JAIDEEP MARAR

MUMBAI, FEB 23: It’s another Test in the fast lane for Sachin Tendulkar & Co. Battered in the Australian freeway by Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, there are genuine doubts among Indian supporters about the home team batsmen's ability to steer clear of trouble against the South African Formula One speed of Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener in the first of the two-Test series starting at the Wankhede Stadium, here, on Thursday.

Hansie Cronje, however, will be intent on pressing the psychological advantage his team holds in the series. He had been tom-tomming about the team's high confidence-levels since landing on Indian soil. Pace is the visitors' forte and after Mornantau Hayward's hurricane spell in the tour-opener at the Brabourne Stadium, Cronje would be tempted to include the speedster as the track promises even bounce. It is in this context that one gets the feeling that the spin of the coin could be decisive.

The embarrassment of bowling riches at the visitor's command has been impoverished by a thigh-strain to batting mainstay Daryll Cullinan sustained last Sunday. Till match eve, the South Africans weren't sure about his participation in the contest. Barring the Cullinan injury, the South Africans, possessing a batting line-up that runs deep, are well geared for the Indian conquest.

In contrast, the Indian camp has been replete with off-field rumblings which have hampered the team's build-up for the series. The presence of just two of the five selectors (Chandu Borde and Anil Deshpande) to decide on the composition of the final eleven on the match eve does not speak well for the pre-Test planning.

Tendulkar's decision to step down from captaincy after the Test series and coach Kapil Dev's absence from the selection meet have soured the team's comeback plans after the debacle Down Under.

The Indian captain, however, was confident of confining these tribulations into the background and focus on the job at hand. ``Even if I'm not the captain I have the same kind of responsibility as an Indian player,'' he remarked to keep the doubting-Thomasses at bay. The wonder bat would still score but the team's wheel of fortune would only roll if others shoulder a similar responsibility. It is more of a mental mountain that the Indians have to climb than anything else to bury the bad memories of the recent past.

The team combination is another problem that the Indian think-tank has to cater to. Despite the presence of two specialist openers -- Venkata Sai Laxman and rookie Wasim Jaffer -- the lure of the spin-to-win-formula could well result in wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia being asked to shoulder additional responsibilities of opening the innings leaving Jaffer on the sidelines. Mongia, however, has reasons to smile though as he is one short of the 100-mark (92 catches and 7 stumpings).

The second rookie in the squad, Mohammad Kaif would be battling the 10-Test experience of Ajay Jadeja. The third member of the rookie brigade, left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, however faces no such problems and is all set to make his international mark. The presence of mentor Bishan Singh Bedi here has helped in soothing the nerves of the 24-year-old. Also set to make his Test debut would be the Delhi off-spinner Nikhil Chopra. The two debutants alongwith leggie Anil Kumble could well herald a new troika for future Indian conquests, provided they jell well here.

For the Indian point of view, the only comforting thing is their past record at the venue: won seven and drawn six of the 16 Tests played here.

The teams (from)

India: Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Venkata Sai Laxman, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Mohammad Kaif, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia (wicket-keeper), Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Javagal Srinath, Murali Kartik, Nikhil Chopra & Thiru Kumaran.

South Africa: Hansie Cronje (captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Pieter Strydom, Hendrik Dippenaar, Mark Boucher (wicket-keeper), Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock (vice-captain), Clive Eksteen, Allan Donald, Mornantau Hayward & Nicky Boje.

Umpires: David Shepherd (England) & Srinivas Venkatraghavan (India). Third umpire: Sameer Bandekar (India). Match Referee: Raman Subba Row (England).

Hours of play: 10 a.m to 12 noon; 12.40 p.m to 2.40 p.m; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.