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Looking Ahead : It's Consolidation Time for
Indian Cricket |
- A Preview to the 1st
Test at Kanpur by Venkat
India has been in a way going through an
extended spell of the lean cricketing form which
began from the Asia Cup. Its not that their
pre-summer break success has translated into the
post-break success, but just that they have not
been playing good cricket to justify their claim
of being one of the top teams in International
Cricket. But, after the recently concluded Test
Series against Australia, which not surprisingly
they lost, a tour by the weakest South African
team could not have come at a better time for
Indian cricket in order to sort its messy house.
Cricketfundas.com gives you an exclusive preview
to the first Test of the Two Test match series
to be played against South Africa at Kanpur.
Pitch:
The pitch attracted most of the attention during
the earlier series against the Aussies. Its not
different on this occasion either. The Kanpur
wicket has traditionally been a win-the-toss and
bat first wicket, and the trend has clearly
suggested that usually teams that do bat first
after winning the toss end up putting up huge
scores and thereby batting only once. As
mentioned by the BCCI Pitch Committee experts,
this wicket will take spin, and in fact will be
a square turner, from late day 3 going into day
4 and day 5. With the South Africans known to be
relatively weak against spin, a rank turner ever
since they landed in India must have already
taken a part of the game away from them. Ideally
win the toss and bat first wicket and a huge
score means, advantage team batting first.
India:
India have been going through a woeful patch in
Test Match cricket in addition to their poor
One-Day record this season. But, it will be
interesting to see how the win at Mumbai against
the Aussies will lift the side mentally. It is
widely believed that Sourav Ganguly could just
make it to the side, as the ban on him has
temporarily been suspended by the ICC. For
India, the opening issue still remains
unresolved, but having said that, Gautam Gambhir
has played himself into a decent batting form
with the help of a 150 in a Ranji game. It will
be really interesting to see if Sehwag will go
and play his natural game, considering the
weakness of the opposition. The middle order
seems to be one getting back to some form. VVS
Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar will be expected to
do something more than what they did against the
Aussies at Mumbai, and it now becomes imperative
that Rahul Dravid scores some runs for the team.
Mohammad Kaif will be a ready reckoner in case
Ganguly has to sit out the match. Dinesh Karthik
gets yet another go behind the stumps following
his impressive debut at a wrinkled Wankhede
wicket.
If Rahul Dravid's statements are to be believed,
then there is a possibility of an attack with 3
spinners and 1 seamer considering the way the
South Africans looked entirely uncomfortable
against the likes of Sairaj Bahutule and Ramesh
Powar. The battle for the lone seamer's spot
(in-case a 3-1 spin attack is played) will be
between an all-rounder in Irfan Pathan and an
in-form Zaheer Khan. The final XI will be an
interesting call. Besides an improvement in form
there is yet another incentive for India if they
win this test match - a rise in the ICC Test
Match Rankings to their highest ever position at
No. 3. There is a lot to play for India, and
considering the weak opposition, one should
easily rank India as favourites going into the
test match, but justifying that rank will be the
key for India.
South Africa:
Ray Jennings has literally brought over a South
Africa A side to this tour, and it will be left
to see how the youngsters rise to the occasion
and perform. We could see as many as 3 players
making their debuts for South Africa at Kanpur.
The South Africans, though looked really
uncomfortable against quality spinners like
Sairaj Bahutule and Ramesh Powar at their tour
opener at Jaipur and it looks as though they
will struggle against the likes of Kumble,
Harbhajan and Murali Kartik on the square turner
provided to them at Kanpur. Jacques Rudolph is
widely speculated to partner Graeme Smith as an
opener, while the fitness issue over Jacques
Kallis' side strain still lingers over. Hashim
Amla could be wearing the South African cap and
will be a part of a middle order which will
probably have the likes of Boeta Dippennar and
Martin van Jaarsveld. Thami Tsolikele looks all
set to make his debut for South Africa and it
will be left to see if he really is the
replacement the Proteas' are looking for in
place of Mark Boucher.
Unlike India, the Proteas' have come to India
with only one recognized spinner - Robin
Peterson, although his participation in the game
is still unsure. Shaun Pollock over the last 24
months or so has not been the bowler he used to
be, but still the South Africans will be looking
to him for some early wickets. Makhaya Ntini has
taken over the baton from Shaun Pollock as the
strike bowler, and he is one bowler who will
always be in the lookout for wickets and could
well be the man for South Africa in this tour.
The lack of quality spinners could mean that
apart from Peterson (if he plays) the part time
off-spin of Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla will be
in effect and it will be left to see if the lack
of spinners hurts South Africa badly. This match
would see this weak South Africa team go down as
underdogs, with winning an extra mile out of
their reach. If South Africa even manage to
escape with a good draw, its as good as a win
for them, considering the inexperience of the
squad. Ray Jennings needs to stop doing the hard
talking and concentrate on the tour if South
Africa could come any close to being a
reasonable threat to India.
There is everything to play for as far as this
Test match is concerned. India's sudden drop in
form and South Africa's inexperience, puts it
into a contest between a team that needs to get
spark to hit fire and a team that has to find
the stones to get the spark. All in all, a keen
battle ahead at Kanpur with the scales tilted
towards India, but expect some hard sessions
from the Proteas, because they dont give it
easy!
Cricketfundas.com Probable XIs (Subject to
Changes in the Final XI)
India: Saurav Ganguly (if eligible else
Mohammad Kaif), Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid,
Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman,
Dinesh Karthik (WK), Irfan Pathan/Zaheer Khan,
Murali Kartik, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain),
Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar,
Hashim Amla, Martin van Jaarsveld, Thami
Tsolikele (wk), Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini,
Robin Peterson and Shaun Pollock.
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