da bet7k： The Bourda Oval at Guyana, possibly the most picturesque groundin the West Indies, is looking as pretty as it usually does aheadof the first Test between India and the West Indies due to starton Thursday
Rajesh Kumar10-Apr-2002The Bourda Oval at Guyana, possibly the most picturesque groundin the West Indies, is looking as pretty as it usually does aheadof the first Test between India and the West Indies due to starton Thursday. The outfield, which resembles a billiard top,assures value for money to any shot-maker.But it is as you walk further down the ground to gaze at thevital 22 yards of strip that doubts begin to surface. The pitch,which was one of the best batting surfaces in the Caribbean, hasnow degenerated into an unpredictable surface. If knowledgeableobservers are to believed, variable bounce will come increasinglyinto play as the match progresses.It could, however, prove a boon in disguise for Sourav Gangulyand his side, who are hoping to win a series in the Caribbean foronly the second time in their country’s cricketing history. For, Anil Kumble, who has proved to be their biggest match-winner inrecent times, is at his most destructive in such conditions.Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, if he recovers in time, will beexpected to play a vital role in ensuring that the Indiancampaign gets off to a happy start. The duo have already struckform, claiming 12 wickets in their team’s victorious tour openeragainst the Guyana Board President’s XI. If they bowl at anywherenear their best, they might succeed in running through a WestIndies line-up that has very few established players in itsranks.India, though, are not wholly dependent on their spin twins. WithJavagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra and Tinu Yohannanalso in the squad, they have the enough firepower in their fastbowling arsenal too. With the bowling looking relatively healthy,it is the batting that is suddenly looking suspect.The batsmen, despite their much-touted abilities, have failed topull their collective weight during away tours. Even the lowlyZimbabwe, led by unheralded medium-pacer Andy Blignaut, managedto drive holes in the much-feted line-up at Harare in one ofIndia’s recent away tours.Disturbingly, then, most of the willow-wielders struggled againsta weak Guyana Board President’s XI attack in the tour opener.Coach John Wright has probably taken the first step in addressingthe problem by voicing it.”We have the potential to beat any side in the world. What werequire is self-belief that we are capable of winning away fromhome. It’s a very important factor,” he said, adding, “We havequite a few brilliant players but have yet to click as a team.What we need is a collective effort.”Evidence of new-found self-belief was found recently when ShivSunder Das, the stocky Indian opener, professed the desire toscore big hundreds in the Caribbean, thereby following in thefootsteps of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. If Das and the middle-order, consisting of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Gangulyamong others, manage to support the ever-consistent SachinTendulkar, the tourists might manage to draw first blood inGuyana itself, fair weather permitting.Usually the rain almost unfailingly makes an appearance, and thepossibility of it doing so again cannot be ruled out. Anotheradversary as far as the Indians would be concerned will be afully fit Brian Lara.The West Indian master, who seemed to have regained his best formin the recent series against Sri Lanka, has recovered from hiselbow injury and would, for his part, be hoping to lead his teamto an upset win over the Indians. Carl Hooper and ShivnarineChanderpaul, who scored tons of runs against the Indians in theprevious series between the two sides, are also capable ofleading the home team’s batting.As for the West Indies bowling, Hooper has decided to place hisreliance on his pace bowlers. “Since we don’t have world-classspinners like India have in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh,we’ll go for pace. India have very good batsmen in Tendulkar,Dravid and Ganguly, but most of their guys are making their firsttrip to the West Indies. We’d like to take advantage of that,”the West Indies captain said in a recent interview to a privatetelevision channel.Talking to ahead of newspersons of the match, he showed everysign of sticking to his plan, saying, “It’s not easy to replaceCourtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, but we will be relying (on)Merv Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Marlon Black and Adam Sanford todeliver the goods.” The last named is rated highly by fastbowling great Colin Croft, who feels that Sanford may be thesurprise packet.All said, the stage is set for a battle of attrition between thetwo sides. Both teams will be eager to gain the early advantage -West Indies to revive the flagging morale of their side, andIndia to assert the supremacy that is already theirs on paper.With fans of both sides expected, for 42 percent of Guyana’spopulation is of Indian descent, to troop out to the ground, theleast that can be promised is a carnival start to the series.Squads: India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar,Wasim Jaffer, Deep Dasgupta, Shiv Sundar Das, VVS Laxman, DineshMongia, Ajay Ratra, Sanjay Bangar, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble,Harbhajan Singh, Sarandeep Singh, Tinu Yohannan, Zaheer Khan,Ashish Nehra.West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Stuart Williams,Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds,Junior Murray, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Marlon Black, AdamStanford, Mahendra Nagamootoo