Sport

India hopes to begin well at MCG

— PHOTO: AFP

STAYING POSITIVE: Anil Kumble believes India has the bowling combination to pick up 20 wickets against Australia.

Melbourne: India had better beware, for, on Tuesday, the Australian cricketers appeared intent on ridding themselves of the spirit of Christmas ahead of the Boxing Day Test.

The promenade along the Yarra River seemed to extend to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. While there were no picnic baskets at the Australian nets, the mood was distinctly festive. Ricky Ponting grooved his cover-drive on one strip; around him were the cricketers’ kids, tackling Andrew Symonds’s off-spin, swishing at Matthew Hayden’s gentle lobs.

The Australians then adjourned for the traditional Christmas lunch with their families to the Crown Hotel. So total was their commitment to enjoying the moment that India can expect little lingering yuletide benevolence come Wednesday.

Not that Anil Kumble is the sort of man to await favours — India was given just one practice match as preparation before the first Test, and, to Kumble’s credit, there has been no bellyaching.

India will look to begin well, for opening battles carry import in Australia. The Kookaburra’s seam tends to flatten dismayingly early, thus often confining wicket-taking to the new ball (especially for touring sides). But, both sets of bowlers might derive more than they had expected from the MCG pitch.

“It is still very, very damp,” said the Australian captain Ponting of the drop-in strip that fits as easily as a toupee. “Apparently, he (curator Tony Ware) put in some water a couple of days ago and hoped for the sun to come out but it hasn’t. We are waiting to see if the wicket bakes by tomorrow morning. It’s probably going to be bowler-friendly from the looks of it, pretty slow and seaming.”

Both sides, consequently, aren’t entirely certain of their bowling line-ups. Australia is leaning towards Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark and Brad Hogg, an attack, Ponting said, “of great skill and variety in firepower”.

India has delayed its decision till Wednesday morning. Moist strips that breed cut often foster turn (particularly from finger spin), and Kumble said there could be a case for two spinners. Had S. Sreesanth been on the tour, there is little doubt India would have played three seamers.

Though not always consistent or on his best behaviour, Sreesanth’s pace, movement and changes in angle helped India in England more than was apparent. His 29 maidens were second only to the impeccable Zaheer Khan among Indian bowlers.

In Sreesanth’s injury-enforced absence, the choice of a third seamer is between Ishant Sharma and Irfan Pathan. While Pathan’s work in correcting and fortifying his action under T.A. Sekhar at the MRF Pace Foundation is admirable, India will do well to opt for Ishant. Though green, he has the confidence of a five-wicket haul behind him, and, at 6 ft 5 in, gives his captain something different. Kumble spoke on Tuesday of the need to leverage the eminent batting unit for bowling gains: “The key to win any Test match is to score runs. That will be the major focus — put runs on the board, put pressure and get 20 wickets. We have the potential to get 20 wickets, I believe that.”

Much of India’s success on the last tour to Australia — and indeed on the tour of England — was set up by its openers. Kumble didn’t confirm if Rahul Dravid will open with Wasim Jaffer, as he did in the practice match at the Junction Oval, but there were portents.

Virender Sehwag, who made 195 on the opening day here in 2003, didn’t bat at the nets; Dinesh Karthik, who top-scored for India in England, spent most of his time indoor with the bowling machine.

The teams (from): India: Anil Kumble (capt.), Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, M.S. Dhoni (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, R.P. Singh, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, and Pankaj Singh.

Australia: Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (capt.), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, and Shaun Tait.

Umpires: Billy Bowden and Mark Benson; Third umpire: Steve Davis; Match referee: Mike Procter.

Hours of play (IST): 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., 7.40 a.m. to 9.40 a.m., and 10 a.m. till close.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu