The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : A familiar do-or-die match for India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 23, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

A familiar do-or-die match for India

By S. Dinakar

AMSTELVEEN, AUG. 22. With their backs to the wall, the Indians find themselves in a `must win' situation, a familiar scenario for Sourav Ganguly's men.

India needs to buck the odds when it meets world champion Australia in the Videocon tri-series at the VRA ground on Monday. It was clear that India failed to tighten the screws during the closing stages of the Pakistan innings — Sourav Ganguly admitted to this later.

And when the Indians chased, the pacing of the innings, given so much importance by the team-management after the debacle in the Asia Cup, went awry again. The runs arrived at a healthy clip in the beginning however, they dried up when the spinners were shrewdly pressed into service by Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Coach John Wright is concerned that the Indian batsmen have been struggling against spin — men like Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik are not even top-flight spinners. Australia's Brad Hogg and Michael Clarke would be licking their lips in anticipation.

Wright indicated that young wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Kaarthick might be given a fling. While Mohammed Kaif's fielding is a definite asset, he has to make his presence felt with the bat. And Yuvraj Singh appears to have got himself into a terrible tangle against the slower bowlers.

A silver lining in the setback at the hands of Pakistan was the fine bowling of paceman L. Balaji.

There was an element of inconsistency about the Indian bowling on Saturday, and if Harbhajan recovers from fever, the side can consider fielding a double-spin attack.

Confident Australia

Australia, even without the explosive Adam Gilchrist, is confident unit, which realises it is only a game away from making the final. The Aussies would be expected to turn on the heat.

The presence of the intimidating Matthew Hayden will not be a very encouraging sight for the bowlers, but who would partner him. The dashing Clarke has revelled in the role before, in the brief opportunity that he has received, while Gilchrist's replacement Brad Haddins is another alternative.

Ponting has emerged as a dynamic captain who has the knack of making things happen. His is a side where `role definition' is paramount. The Aussie skipper would surely not leave it till the last game for a place in the title game on Saturday.

The Aussies have a selection dilemma, having to choose three from the pace quartet of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, and Michael Kasprovicz. The last named has bowled with verve in recent times, but Lee, on a comeback, could receive the nod for his ability to influence a match in a bigger fashion.

The weather has taken a turn for the better, but then rain can never really be ruled out in these parts.

The teams: India (from): Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Rohan Gavaskar, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, L. Balaji, A. Kumble, Dinesh Kaarthick, Harbhajan Singh, Aashish Nehra. Coach: John Wright.

Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddins, Bradd Hogg, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Michael Kasprovicz, Ian Harvey, Shane Watson. Coach: John Buchannan.

Umpires: David Shepherd and Steve Bucknor. Third umpire: Jeremy Lloyd. Match Referee: Chris Broad.

Hours of play (IST): 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m, 6.15 p.m. till end of match.

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