The Hindu : Confident India takes on West Indies from today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 09, 2002

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Sport - Cricket

Confident India takes on West Indies from today

By G. Viswanath

The West Indies captain Carl Hooper having a word with Sir Vivian Richards during a practice session at the Wankhede stadium on the eve of the first Test against India on Tuesday. Right: Indian speedster Javagal Srinath bowling at the nets, watched by Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. — Photos: Vivek Bendre

Mumbai Oct. 8. Quirk of fate has robbed the leading light of world cricket from giving a bright spark to the only international series of the season that will grip India's aficionados for nearly seven weeks.

It seems totally odd that an India-West Indies series is being played without the eminent presence of Brian Lara. Only a month ago the half-fit left-hander from Trinidad delivered a match-winning century against Kenya in the ICC Champions Trophy in sweltering Colombo. But an illness that immediately sent him to the hospital bed subsequently dealt a severe blow to his ambition of playing a second Test rubber in India when medical investigations put him on the plane back home for total rest and recuperation.

There is no gainsaying the fact that an adventurous batsman like Lara lends substance, colour and thrill to a series. Lara did not have a particularly great time in India eight years ago. He was not in great form when the Sourav Ganguly-led Indian team visited the Caribbean and played a five-Test series there. A total of 791 runs from 13 Tests against India reflects his moderate success against Indian bowlers. He must have been keen to be more prolific this time around. But an illness, reportedly Hepatitis `B', has confined him to his home in Trinidad.

The three-Test series will get underway on Wednesday on an unexplored Wankhede pitch without the West Indian genius whose absence captain Carl Hooper declared was a `big blow', but one which should spur the youngsters to grab the opportunity. The sheer presence of Lara would have lit up the series and with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, who has given ample signs of coming out of the master's shadow, in the home team's ranks, things could have been just perfect for the only home international series before the World Cup.

The last four decades have seen the greatest allrounder of all time Gary Sobers and thereafter Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards not only amassing runs against all comers and especially against India, but also in the course of their long association with Indian cricket developing friendship with Indian cricketers.

The West Indies' present captain Hooper, who made his debut in India at the Wankhede in 1987 and has made 1233 runs in 16 Tests, has a chance to emulate some of the illustrious West Indian cricketers. Hooper will be capped a 100th time by the West Indies on Wednesday at a venue where he made 37 in his first Test before being trapped leg before by Kapil Dev.

Hooper, who has been around for 15 years, should have become the sixth West Indian to cross the milestone in his career — the others being Courtney Walsh (132), Viv Richards (121), Desmond Haynes (116), Clive Lloyd (110) and Gordon Greenidge (108) — long ago, but for some developments.

Hooper conceded there would be advantage for the home team, but joined the swelling ranks that believes that only the team that will `play better cricket over five days' will get the upper hand in the Test.

"It's hot and humid, and we are all sweating. But it will affect the bowlers of both the sides,'' said Hooper confirming that all is right with his right knee. Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are the seasoned campaigners in the side. Both were in top form against the Indians and were instrumental in winning the series 2-1 in the recent series in the Caribbean.

Most significantly they know how to deal with spin and handle pressure and in 1994 saw from the dressing room the way Jimmy Adams used his pads as the first line of defence against the Indian spinners.

According to the West Indies' coach Roger Harper, the important thing that happened in their only warm-up game, against the Board President's XI at Bangalore, was that their main batsmen spent a lot of time in the middle and scored runs.

But it was Hooper who put it right saying: "We are like India without Sachin Tendulkar. It's (Lara's absence) a big blow. It's up to the youngsters to make the most of the chances.''

The Indians are a confident lot now after their fine performances in England and in the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. Ganguly must have been plotting long and will be keen to make another big mark in the series. An event that will be watched with more than ordinary interest is the return of Javagal Srinath, who quit Test cricket after the last series against West Indies. But in spite of his team's good showing in England, Ganguly has been in the vanguard urging Srinath to abandon his retirement plans and return to the mainstream of international cricket. Eight years ago, Srinath was in the thick of things when India beat the West Indies at the Wankhede, scoring runs and winning the Man-of-the-Match award.

After a three-hour practice session at the Wankhede, Ganguly said Ashish Nehra, Amit Mishra and Shiv Sundar Das would be in the reserves. India's captain has given the impression of being a practical man these days. Selecting the eleven was a simple matter to him, but when asked about the quality of the pitch he said: "It's a new wicket and even the groundsman does not know how it will behave. I think it looks fair and should start turning by the third day. But frankly I don't know why the wicket here was re-laid. It has always had bounce and carry.''

Talking about the scorching heat and humidity he said, "It's surprising. It has not been like this here before.''

The two teams will experience it in the next five days should the Test last the distance. The last time the Indians stepped out of the Wankhede defeated in a Test match after three days, it was after the mighty blows struck by Adam Gilchirst and Mathew Hayden and Glen McGrath and Jason Gillespie.

Doordarshan will telecast live the Test series. The telecast for the first Test will start at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. All India Radio (AIR) will also broadcast a running commentary from 9 a.m.

The teams:

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Sanjay Bangar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan Ashish Nehra, Amit Mishra, Shiv Sundar Das.

West Indies (from): Carl Hooper (Captain), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Darren Ganga, Ridley Jacobs, Marlon Samuels, Pedro Collins, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Jermaine Lawson, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Darren Powell, Gareth Breese.

Umpires: Messrs David Shepherd and Asoka de Silva; Third: I. Sivaram; Fourth: Jasbir Singh; Match Referee: Mike Proctor.

Hours of play: 9-30 a.m. to 11-30 a.m.; 12-10 p.m. to 2-10 p.m.; 2-30 p.m. to 4-30 p.m.

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