WATCH OUT FOR THOSE SPOTS: Sachin Tendulkar seems to be telling his captain Rahul Dravid as the two inspect the SSC pitch on Friday. — PHOTO: V. Ganesan

Colombo: The groundstaff swooped on to the ground, dragging those huge covers, braving the thunderstorm. In the dizzyingly glamorous world of international cricket, they are unsung, and often ignored. These are nameless, faceless people on the cricketing world's visage. It is with their sweat that the stage for the marquee names is created.

In probably its only rewarding aspect so far, the Unitech cricket has brought this industrious tribe to the forefront. For once, their images are flashed more frequently than the cricketers.

The groundstaff was in the thick of things again after just 3.4 overs in the first game of the three-match Unitech series at the Singhalese Sports Club ground here on Friday.

Forecast not too good

India was 11 without loss, openers Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar unbeaten on 9 and two. The contest will resume from this point on Saturday, the reserve day. The forecast, though, predicts more rain.

Play, that got underway only at 2.30 p.m. following a sharp spell of showers in the morning, lasted just 22 balls before the dark clouds moved in once again forcing the batsmen to accept the offer of light. Soon, it began to rain.

In the brief action that the weather permitted at this lovely ground wrapped in old world charm, Dravid survived a couple of vociferous leg-before appeals from Chaminda Vaas before spanking the left-arm paceman through the covers off the back-foot. There was some assistance for the pacemen due to the moisture on the surface and the nippy Lasith Malinga of that sling arm action got a couple of deliveries to hiss past Dravid's outside edge. But when the Lankan strayed in line, the Indian captain punished him on the on-side.

Tendulkar, back in international cricket after five months, had a quieter time, faced fewer deliveries and tucked away two of them for singles. He would be awaiting a longer stint on Saturday, weather permitting.

Dravid's decision to bat was probably influenced by the fact that the match did not start at 10 a.m. when the pitch would have, perhaps, offered more to the pacemen. Yet, it was a brave move by the Indian skipper.

Chasing is invariably the better option at the SSC since the pitch here does not become progressively as slow as the one at the Premadasa Stadium. Perhaps, Dravid's thinking was influenced by the fact that India was playing two spinners.

Team combinations

Under the circumstances, when the conditions were expected to aid the pacemen — the Lankans fielded four pacemen with Muttiah Muralitharan as the lone spinner — the selection of off-spinner Ramesh Powar ahead of paceman S. Sreesanth was questionable. Apart from having Harbhajan Singh in the side, India can expect a few tight overs of off-spin from Virender Sehwag.

Sreesanth was unlucky to miss out. The lively paceman has added much to the Indian attack, with aspects like well thought out changes in length, judicious use of the crease, and the ability to either bring the ball in and take it away.

However, both, Dravid's ploy to bat and Powar being given an opportunity can be understood in the context of India utilising the chances to experience different situations and try out various options in the build up to the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. It was also evident that Dravid was, despite Tendulkar's return, in the scheme of things as an ODI opener. The skipper believes he can contribute in this role.

Timing of the series

The scheduling of this series in August has come under the scanner too. However, K. Mathivanan, Deputy Chairman, Development of Cricket and Cricket Operations, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) told The Hindu that these were unseasonal rains. ``The monsoon in Sri Lanka begins in September and stretches to October. We have played a lot of cricket in August and there has been no rain,'' he said defending the timing of the tournament.

There are talks too that the remaining part of the series could be shifted to Dambulla, if the inclement weather persists in Colombo. Indian team media manager Rajan Nair denied such a move was in the offing. He also clarified that the series would remain a three-match one. There are reports of SLC still pressing for a five-match series.

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