TRYING HARD: Sachin Tendulkar hopes for a revival of fortunes in the fifth ODI at Centurion on Sunday.- PHOTO: AP

Centurion: Pride is a strong attribute. India will be playing for pride in the final MTN one-day international here on Sunday.

The South Africans will be seeking further glory — a 4-0 verdict. Graeme Smith said there would be no let off in pressure from his side.

The series has been decided, but then, every game in the run-up to the World Cup has its own significance. The Indians will strive to end the series on a positive note.

It will not be easy. Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel and Jacques Kallis, with his all-round ability, will be back to torment the Indian line-up after a brief respite in the Twenty20 game.

The batsmen will be probed. India, though, will have the experience and skill of V.V.S. Laxman for the game.

The wristy batsman stroked the ball with confidence in the impressive outdoor practice facility at Super Sport Park. He was also getting his front foot right to the pitch of the ball. This, from an Indian perspective, is a good sign.

Influential batsman

Laxman is an influential batsman who can dominate attacks. But it will be tough to ask him to adjust to what could be a bouncy South African pitch so soon after his arrival.

The senior batsman is chasing a dream — of playing in the World Cup. He missed out in 2003 and he has described that omission as the most disappointing moment of his career.

When asked about it here on Saturday, he smiled. He wants his bat to do the talking.

Talking of World Cup, India should have happy memories of the Centurion. It was here that India defeated Pakistan in a high-octane duel in 2003. India then overcame New Zealand. The Men in Blue have also scored two victories over South Africa at the Centurion.

Traditionally, the Centurion pitch has bounce. It also encourages stroke-play. The boundaries are short on the sides and the outfield is often lightning fast. It could be windy in these parts. The direction of the wind, and a cloud cover, could assist the pacemen.

Fielding a logical option

This is a day game and there should be some moisture initially for the bowlers to exploit. Fielding should be the logical option for the captain winning the spin of the coin.

India will be without Munaf Patel and Ajit Agarkar, who are nursing injuries. The impressive Zaheer Khan should share the new ball with the zestful S. Sreesanth with Irfan Pathan as the other pace bowling option.

The chances are that off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will partner leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who has bowled like a champion in this series. Considering that the two are likely to operate in tandem in the home one-dayers and then the World Cup, it would not be a bad idea to start the sequence here. Kumble is well and truly back in the ODIs.

From one legend to another. This was the venue where Sachin Tendulkar struck a scorching short-pitched ball from Shoiab Akhtar for a pulse-pounding six square off the wicket in the last World Cup.

Slump of form

The maestro has suffered a form slump of sorts. He can so easily prove the doubters wrong.

Among the youngsters, Dinesh Karthik has caught the eye with his organised footwork. And feet movement is an area Mohammed Kaif will have to focus on. He may still have to play a key role in India's World Cup campaign.

Meanwhile, South African captain Smith is also grappling a footwork-related technical chink arising from a lack of balance in his stance — he seems to be falling over making him vulnerable to incoming deliveries.

The host is likely to make one change, with spinning all-rounder Robin Petersen replacing an injured Andrew Hall. Opener Loots Bosman might make way for Ashwell Prince. Abraham de Villiers is expected to don the role of an opener with Prince taking his place in the middle-order.

The teams:

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

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

Umpires: B. Doctrove and I. Howell.

Third umpire: B. Jerling.

Match referee: C. Broad.

Hours of play: 1:30 p.m. (IST) to 5 p.m. & 5:40 p.m. till end of match.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail