DETERMINED: Virender Sehwag will have to lead from the front in the fourth ODI against South Africa on Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP

Port Elizabeth: They say when the wind sweeps into the stadium from the drylands of the west, it turns the pitch at St. George's park dry.

And when the wind comes in from the south-easterly direction, it carries with it moisture from the sea. The spinners would benefit in the first scenario, and the pacmen, in the second.

The bigger question is — which way would the wind blow for India. This has, so far, been a jinxed campaign for the Men in Blue. Injuries and defeats have followed the side. Now, its captain and most reliable batsman Rahul Dravid is out of the series.

Stuttering side

It is not easy being in Virender Sehwag's shoes. The dasher at the top of the order is seeking runs himself. Now, he has to lead a stuttering side that is just one match away from a series defeat.

But then, Sehwag likes to keep it simple and straight. His message to the fans back home is — "Trust the team."

The team would also have to trust itself in the `do-or-die' fourth ODI, here, on Wednesday. Self-belief is the genesis of comebacks.

Sehwag denied he was under stress — "only when you think of pressure, there is pressure, I don't play under pressure."

His next line held much significance. "The team will have to learn to stay together and fight during times where it would be without, both Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar." Mercifully, Tendulkar will play the next game. In fact, either Tendulkar or Anil Kumble would fill in as vice-captain.

Sehwag defended the coach. "Greg Chappell has been a good coach and has helped the players, particularly the batsmen technically," he said.

Traditionally, the wicket here does not behave like a typical South African pitch of pace and bounce. However, pacemen, when the weather assists them, have been able to achieve lateral movement.

The pitch tends to slow down as the match progresses and can prove spinner-friendly. The wicket, however, has tended to favour the batsmen more in recent times, if the domestic matches are any indication.

As Sehwag indicated, India is likely to play, both, Kumble and Harbhajan Singh again and persist with the five-bowler formula. Logically, bowling second would suit the spinners.

Options

In a day/night game, though, the spinners could suffer under the lights due to the moisture factor. Tuesday was a day of brilliant sunshine and if similar weather continues, the spinners might actually be better off operating in the afternoon. Sehwag will have to weigh his options.

S. Sreesanth deserves a game. He will add bite and swing to the attack and should share the new ball with a rejuvenated Zaheer Khan. Irfan Pathan is struggling and Ajit Agarkar disappointed at Newlands.

Munaf doubtful

For the second day running, Munaf Patel could not take part in the practice session due to a sore ankle. It is highly unlikely that he would be fit for the fourth ODI.

The Indian bowling has faltered at the death. Sehwag conceded that the point was discussed during the team-meeting. "We will try to do something different,' he added.

Indian batting too has faltered. With Dravid not available, V.V.S. Laxman certain not to reach here on time, and a host of batsmen off form, it would be wise to switch Tendulkar to the No. 3 slot or the middle order.

Opener Wasim Jaffer can be inducted or Dinesh Karthik, asked to bat at the top of the order.

Problems

South Africa also has problems up the order. In fact, skipper Graeme Smith has come under considerable criticism for lack of runs as an opener. Herschelle Gibbs too has suffered a form slump.

Smith reiterated that the team would not be complacent. He was not willing to give India the mental edge and said, "I don't think this wicket will turn a great deal. This should be a good wicket for batting."

South Africa has a selection issue to resolve. The skipper was confident that paceman Andre Nel would recover in time, but then, Nel's replacement, Andrew Hall, had an outstanding game at Newlands. But then, a problem of plenty is not such a bad thing. India does not have such luxury.

The teams:

India (from): V. Sehwag (captain), W. Jaffer, S. Tendulkar, M. Kaif, D. Karthik, M.S. Dhoni, A. Agarkar, H. Singh, A. Kumble, Z. Khan, S. Sreesanth, S. Raina, I. Pathan, D. Mongia. Coach: G. Chappell.

South Africa (from): G. Smith (captain), L. Bosman, J. Kallis, H. Gibbs, A.B. de Villiers, J. Kemp, M. Boucher, S. Pollock, A. Hall, A. Nel, M. Ntini, C. Langeveldt, R. Peterson, A. Prince. Coach: M. Arthur.

Hours of play: 6 p.m. (IST) to 9.30 p.m. & 10.10 p.m. till the end of match.

Umpires: B. Doctrove & B. Jerling; Third umpire: I. Howell. Match referee: C. Broad.

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