India's chance to correct away record

By K.SRIKKANTH

It is a wonderful opportunity for India to score an `away Test series' victory and Sourav Ganguly and his team should cash in on this chance.

Zimbabwe is among the weaker sides in international cricket, and the imbalance in India's home-away record can be corrected, at least to a certain extent. And then, India, having lost the one- off Test in this African nation not too long ago, will also be looking for revenge.

For once, the Indian attack appears alright with the left-arm pace of Zaheer Khan complementing Javagal Srinath. The two could form a potent new ball combination, of experience and youth. There is variety as well. Ajit Agarkar could chip in as the third seamer.

It goes without saying that, ultimately, bowlers win matches and the emergence of Harbhajan Singh as a match-winning off-spinner has done much to boost India's confidence. The Sardar has been among the wickets in the warm-up games before the first Test at Bulawayo and the signs are good.

Here, one would like to emphasise on the catching and the Indians will have to latch on to even the half-chances. Too often in the past, sloppy catching has dented India's chances away from home.

Wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe will be under scrutiny and the onus is on the Mumbai player to grab every chance that comes his way. Dighe appears to be in good nick with the bat and if he makes runs down the order it will provide the Indian line-up with a certain depth and balance.

The Indians, of course, possess a rather formidable batting line- up, with the runs coming quickly enough to set up victories. This is vital.

However, one hopes the opening combination of Sadagopan Ramesh and Shiv Sundar Das is not disturbed. The two have had their share of success and could develop into a longstanding pair. In the dramatic final Test at Chennai, their stand in the Indian first innings provided India with a solid platform.

Hemang Badani is an extremely talented southpaw, but, for heaven's sake, let's not thrust him into one of the opening slots. He has true ability and his chance in the middle order is bound to come in due course.

Too many careers in India have been nipped in the bud because of this obsession of asking middle-order batsmen to go right at the top of the order. Even the gifted V.V.S. Laxman very nearly paid the price, before the selectors realised their folly in the nick of time.

The series should enable skipper Sourav Ganguly re- discover form. At home, against Australia, he was under considerable pressure, with the media too gunning for him. Away from such pressures, things could be different for the captain.

Coming to the Zimbabweans, they have plenty of `bits and pieces' players, who do make a contribution to the team's cause.

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