A low-interest encounter

By Vijay Lokapally

HARARE, JULY 3. The biggest challenge will be motivation. With nothing at stake in this match, the players could hardly be faulted if they take things easy and keep their best in reserve for the final slated for Saturday.

The India-West Indies match, the last of the league in the triangular series, comes up on Wednesday a dead contest even before a ball has been bowled. With both the teams having made it to the final there will be nothing of interest for the spectators as they would be aware that the players would not strive to give their best.

The teams, however, may have a few points to garner to improve their international rating. ``Being in the final means a lot. We've got some young players and there won't be a better time than this to beat India. It's important to try and win every match these days,'' said West Indies skipper Carl Hooper at the Harare Sports Club here.

India has maintained an unbeaten record thus far. The team has jelled very well in the last three matches with little worries on any front, what with Sourav Ganguly too finding his touch in the match against Zimbabwe. The Indian skipper, however, was guilty of playing a poor stroke in that match, leading to a slide which was arrested only by some sensible batsmanship by Rahul Dravid.

By winning that match, India had ensured itself a place in the final and also gave itself a chance to experiment in the last game against the West Indies.

What stood out in the victory against the West Indies at Bulawayo was India's performance in the end overs. The job was begun well with Harvinder and Mohanty strangling the batsmen and creating a situation where the batsmen had to take a few chances. With patience not being a virtue of the West Indians' batting character, the Indians came off well in their plans.

Zaheer backed the two splendidly. It was a pitch which suited the seamers but the Indians struck a tight line and length. The first 25 overs yielded the West Indians a mere 47 runs. Rarely had the Indian attack looked so formidable. The bowlers gave a decent account in the last 10 overs too, conceding 47 runs with Zaheer excelling with his yorkers. Harvinder signed off in style by giving away just two runs in the last over of the innings, his blockhole attack leaving the batsmen frustrated.

Bowling then was a great gain for the Indians, apart from the return to form of Ganguly, while the West Indians ended up with a few problems to sort out. ``I don't think we had any alarms in the batting department. It's the bowling which caused us concern,'' Hooper had said at the end of the last match against Zimbabwe, which witnessed a last-over finish.

``I don't want to be harsh on the youngsters. We're all trying to do well and the progress has been encouraging. It is just that we need to block a couple of loopholes for the team to be ready. I understand the need for the team to be more consistent but then international cricket is a learning experience. Without meaning any disrespect to Zimbabwe, I must say that India is a much tougher opposition. They have depth in their batting and that's one area we need to tackle well,'' said Hooper.

Cameroon Cuffy has had a fine series and not one batsman has managed to dominate this gangling medium-pacer from St. Vincent. His combined analysis for three matches reads an astonishing 30-7-70-3. He has been a great strength in the West Indian plans and has carried out the task assigned to him perfectly - Hooper preferring to let Cuffy bowl his quota in one spell. By choking the flow of boundaries at the start Cuffy has perfectly utilised his experience of learning the craft from bowlers like Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose. None deserves rest from this match more than Cuffy.

No respite for the 'keepers

Even as the Indians decided to rest Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer for tomorrow's match with V.V.S. Laxman not fully recovered from the finger injury, the West Indian team management considered a combination on similar lines - resting the regulars. But two individuals - Sameer Dighe and Ridley Jacobs - had little choice. No one spares a thought for the tribe of wicketkeepers.

As they shared their experience after breakfast this morning, the two wicketkeepers reflected on their job with a lot of enthusiasm. ``The best way to go about the job is to keep an eye on the ball always,'' said Jacobs with a smile. ``One has to enjoy the job. You can't make excuses. It is a high profile job and one has to be at his best always,'' remarked Dighe.

Jacobs added, ``the key is fitness and I enjoy keeping wickets for my country. It doesn't matter if I don't get to rest. My motivation lies in not making a mistake and boosting the bowlers.''

Dighe, who spent time with Ian Healy when the Australian was in Harare a fortnight ago, also had little regrets. ``It is tough, but then it is a job which carries such responsibility. I've learnt to improve my concentration and the fact that the team has been winning has kept me focussed on my job. Like I said, one has to enjoy the job and not look at the negative side, that we are the only ones not getting any rest,'' said Dighe, who writes a daily diary following advice from Healy. ``It helps me keep a progress chart of my performance,'' said the Mumbai stumper.

It will be a formality the two teams will complete in the run-up to the final. This match provides one more chance for the respective captains to assess their ammunition before the final assault on Saturday.

The Indian camp has taken in its stride the allegations that three key members in the side have been taking performance enhancing drugs. Ajit Agarkar and Rahul Dravid, two of the players named, showed no signs of being affected by the allegations made in a weekly magazine back home. The team management will issue an official reaction on Wednesday.

The challenge, meanwhile, remains motivation to focus on this match and nothing else.

The teams (from):

India: Sourav Ganguly (Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Dinesh Mongia, Rahul Dravid, Hemang Badani, Virender Sehwag, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Sameer Dighe, Harbhajan Singh, Harvinder Singh, Debasis Mohanty and Ashish Nehra.

West Indies: Carl Hooper (Captain), Chris Gayle, Darren Ganga, Wavell Hinds, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ridley Jacobs, Marlon Samuels, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Mervyn Dillon, Corey Collymore, Cameroon Cuffy, Reon King, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Neil McGarrell.

Umpires: Messrs K. Barbour and G. Evans; Third umpire: Mr. Q. Goosen; Match Referee: Mr. Denis Lindsay.

Hours of play (IST): 12.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.; 4.45 p.m. onwards.

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