Testing time for the Indians

By G. Viswanath

EAST LONDON, NOV. 9. The African skies have been some what unfriendly to the Indian cricket team. Though there was no torrential rain around the Southern coast 10 days ago and in particular during the scheduled match at the Indian township of Chatsworth, thunder storms had caused sufficient damage to prevent the Indians a worthwhile practice session before the first Test in Bloemfontein.

The Indians may not face a similar situation in the lead-up to the second Test in Port Elizabeth, but there is genuine concern about the rain disrupting the visitors' four-day match against a strong South Africa `A' side.

Thursday was a particularly bad day for air travellers. The skies all over South Africa was cloudy and strong winds at 25,000 feet made for the most unpleasant journey for the Indian team, which flew in a 29-seater aircraft from Bloemfontein to East London via Port Elizabeth.

Rains had lashed the coastal areas and East London, which must figure as one of the top of the line tourist resorts because of its long coastline, for once appeared overcast and dull. The wet runway and the road leading to the team's beachfront hotel might have forced everybody connected with the match to believe that the Buffalo Park would be soaked in water.

The generally sombre atmosphere made sure that the players did not stir out of the hotel premises on Thursday. But such thoughts of the second and last first class match of the tour - the second and Third Tests have been scheduled back-to- back - would be a non-starter were belied when the team reached the venue on Friday afternoon. In fact India's coach John Wright, who had visited the Buffalo Park around 9 a.m. returned with encouraging news about the condition of the ground.

East London has been allotted one `Super 6' match of the 2003 World Cup, which obviously is a statement on the excellent facilities here. Things had improved, with the skies clearing up so much, that the authorities at the Border Cricket Union could make available their outdoor nets for practice to the Indians. But to get the best facility at the ground, the practice session was delayed by two hours. The super sopper was put to use to suck water from the practice pitches. The system just about works wonderfully here with minimum manpower.

Buffalo Park is one of the best equipped cricketing venues in South Africa. It has good outdoor nets, and indoors too. It perhaps has the world's biggest press enclosure.

In spite of the absence of sunshine on Friday, everybody is hopeful of the match starting on time. Furthermore there was good news of warm weather over the next four days from Saturday to Tuesday.

After capitulating to Shaun Pollock and his men well inside four days of the first Test, what the Indians are looking forward to is a meaningful four-day match that will get the mind set of the players nearer to a Test match situation.

Ganguly may miss match

There is uncertainty about Sourav Ganguly playing the match. The chances are that he will see all the action from the dressing room nursing a bruised knee. A nagging pain took him to the radiologist on Friday morning for examination of the bruised part of his right knee. There was no alarming report from the doctor, but physiotherapist Andrew Leipus said since Ganguly suffered a `nick in the lining of the joint' he needed rest.

The impact of the Mornantau Hayward delivery was directly felt on the bone and another blow there might aggravate the slightly damaged part. Ganguly travelled to the ground with the team, but did not stretch himself or take part in the batting and bowling sessions, which began with Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar getting a knock in the nets.

Ganguly's absence will give a first opportunity for Rahul Dravid to lead the team. He is the nominated vice-captain of the tour. There is considerable debate as to who should be given the responsibility of opening the innings with Shiv Sundar Das in the second Test. The captain might still want Dravid to do the job, but opinion among the think tank seems to be divided. V.V.S. Laxman's name has been floating around since the first Test fiasco.

Another possible candidate for the job is Deep Dasgupta, who was involved in a half century partnership with Virender Sehwag in the first Test. The Bengal wicketkeeper is a certainty for the second and third Tests with Sameer Dighe's back muscle pull serious enough to send him back home on Saturday and the national selectors deciding against sending a replacement. Ajay Ratra has been named as a standby; the Haryana wicketkeeper will come here should the team face another crisis. With the selectors naming Ratra for the contingency plan, it is more or less certain that Nayan Mongia has played his last match - Test or one-day international - for India.

The Indian team will be packed with four fast bowlers in Venkatesh Prasad, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra and a spinner in Harbhajan Singh. Connor Williams, who bats left handed and has been opening the innings for Baroda for a number of years, will also get his first chance. The tour selectors will have a task on their hands should Williams come good in the match.

Wright has already said that Sehwag's century has put them in a dilemma. Sehwag is the most favoured batsman now; Wright does not want him to be disturbed from the No. 6 position. The choice for the opener's slot is clearly narrowing down; it's either Dravid or Laxman.

Benkenstein to lead

India's opponents too had to make a few changes in the eleventh hour. The South Africa `A' team's new captain is Dale Benkenstein. He has replaced H.D. Ackerman who hurt his shoulder in the one-day match against India at Benoni. Then Darryl Cullinan, who thwarted the Indians' bid for a win in the third Test of the 1996-97 series, has been called to replace batsman allrounder Justin Ontong, who has a hamstring problem.

Left-arm fast bowler Charl Willoughby's knee injury may give Garnett Kruger another chance to play against the visiting team. An interesting inclusion in the team is the left- arm spinner with a `frog-in-the-blender' action, Paul Adams. The South Africa `A' team's pace attack consists of Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt and Justin Kemp. So it's not going to be an easy outing for the Indians, whose tail might appear to start after the No. 6 position.

The teams:

India (from): Connor Williams, Shiv Sundar Das, V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Deep Dasgupta, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Venkatesh Prasad, Javagal Srinath, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly.

South Africa `A' (from): Dale Benkenstein (Captain), Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith, Martin van Jaarsveld, Daryll Cullinan, Justin Kemp, Thami Tsolekile, Paul Adams, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Charl Willoughby (or Garnett Kruger); 12th man Gulam Bodi.

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