Cape Town: The decider at Newlands will be one of biggest Tests in Indian cricket history. It will be as much about strategy and skills as handling pressure and winning key moments.

Both sides await a hard climb in the third Test of the Castle series beginning Tuesday. At 1-1, the winner takes it all in a fresh year.

Fine weather

The cricketers practised under bright sunshine on Monday. The forecast for the first four days predicts similar weather; there is, however, a 30 per cent chance of rain on the final day.

The pitch, which has a layer of grass, was watered on Monday. There could be lateral movement for the pacemen, but not as much bounce as at the Wanderers.

Traditionally, the surface at Newlands has favoured the spinners as the match progresses.

Kumble's role

Anil Kumble, all focus at the nets, will seek to don the cloak of a match-winner. South African captain Graeme Smith said left-arm spinner Paul Harris was likely to be included.

A look at the last two Tests in Cape Town makes interesting reading.

On the first occasion, Australia won by seven wickets, with paceman Stuart Clark doing most of the damage with nine scalps in the Test; Shane Warne collected three in the second innings.

In the next Test, that saw the batsmen dominate, New Zealand piled up nearly 600 with Stephen Fleming constructing a double hundred. The game ended in a draw.

Interestingly, Smith said the surface reminded him of the pitch for the Australia match. Pacemen called the shots in that game, but there was slow turn for the spinners.

Both sides are keeping their cards close to chest; both have not announced the customary 12 on the eve of a Test.

Dravid did express concern about wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni's bruised finger.

The Indian team-management would assess how Dhoni recovered from Monday's practice session before taking a final decision.

The skipper said paceman Munaf Patel was now completely fit. Munaf should take V.R.V. Singh's place.

On specific questions relating to Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag, Dravid came up with interesting answers. Talking about Harbhajan's inclusion, he said, "It is always tempting to play both Kumble and Harbhajan, quality spinners, but when you go abroad they do not make pitches that allow you to field two spinners. If you do pick them you got to assume that you always win the toss. That does not always happen.

"Sometimes our best chance is on a seaming wicket where the three pacemen and the lone spinner can pick 20 wickets, and we put sufficient runs on the board." The skipper's message appeared to be — one spinner is fine in these conditions.

However, he did drop a hint that the out-of-form Virender Sehwag could be picked after all. It could still be a close thing between him and Gautam Gambhir.

Smith said the influential Jacques Kallis was now fit "to bat and bowl." Smith was also upbeat about strike bowler Dale Steyn's fitness and the overwhelming desire in his team to clinch the series. "We would like to come from behind and win the three-Test series. We have done it before."

The Indian skipper made a double century in a decisive last Test in Rawalpindi in 2004. For him and India, history beckons again.

The teams: India (from): Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, M.S. Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, S. Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh and V.R.V. Singh.

South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (captain), A.B. de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Paul Harris, Andrew Hall, Morne Morkel and Paul Adams.

Umpires: Daryl Harper & Asad Rauf. Third umpire: Marais Erasmus. Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama.

Match starts at 2 p.m. (IST).

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