KEEN TO KEEP GOING: The win against the West Indies in the first one-dayer has instilled the much-needed confidence in the Indian team, which will be eager to maintain the winning run. — Photo: AFP

Cuttack: Fiddling with the winning combination has on most occasions been frowned upon, but Rahul Dravid did not leave anything to vague assumptions in an engaging media conference held by the side of the 30-yard circle at the Barabati Stadium.

Dravid said an extra off-spinner in Ramesh Powar could be handy for India on a surface he feels would be a far cry from the one at Nagpur that produced 662 runs. Joginder Sharma offers an all-rounder option at No. 7 in the second Pepsi Cup one-dayer against the West Indies here on Wednesday.

Joginder, after his excellent run in the domestic championship with the bat and ball, is likely to replace S. Sreesanth.

The West Indies faces a different predicament that has delayed the process of picking its eleven in order to level the series. Brian Lara — who had a hit for ten minutes and delighted autograph hunters for more than half an hour — has been ruled out due to a chronic knee problem. Vice-captain Chris Gayle will lead the team for the first time.

"There are no immediate concerns about his World Cup availability," said the team physio Stephen Partridge. According to a release from the team media officer, Imran Khan, no decision has yet been taken on Lara's availability for the third and fourth ODIs.

However, all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, recovering from a knee injury, has been cleared to play the match.

Dravid has perhaps deciphered that the pitch is likely to obey the whims and fancies of the spinners, but plainly he, coach Greg Chappell and the selectors are running short of time while getting nearer to pick the final 15 for the World Cup. They have been driven by the necessity to know where the specialist off-spinner and the all-rounder stand in the present circumstances.

Off-spinners

The team for the third and fourth matches will be picked here on Thursday. Nerves are bound to hit Harbhajan Singh and Powar, both in contention for an off-spinner's slot for the World Cup bound team. Though Powar bowled eight overs and picked up three wickets for 24 at Jaipur against England in the Champions Trophy as against Harbhajan's one for 28 in eight overs, the Mumbai bowler failed to get the captain's nod against the West Indies at Motera. India, instead, fielded left-arm seamer R.P. Singh and lost the match. Either Harbhajan or Powar will have to make way for leg-spinner Anil Kumble in the matches at Chennai and Baroda.

A bit dry wicket

"The wicket looks a bit dry and will turn a bit as the match progresses and it might play a little low and slow as well. There's no doubt about Sreesanth's ability, but we are keen to give a chance to Joginder and explore. Sreesanth (one for 79 at Nagpur) is playing a lot of cricket. We might think of actually giving him a break as it also gives us an option to play an all-rounder as well as two spinners, thus five bowlers in all," said Dravid.

When asked whether the presence of Uthappa (substitute fielder for Sourav Ganguly at Nagpur), Karthik and Raina made a huge difference to the Indian fielding, Dravid said: "Definitely. It makes difference and there is no doubt about it. All our young guys are brilliant fielders, some of the more experienced guys, who have been doing well and getting the runs, might not be the best fielders. We are not natural athletes, especially the senior guys. There are some guys in this side who obviously cannot become brilliant."

The teams:

India (from 12): Rahul Dravid (capt.), Sourav Ganguly, Gautam Gambhir, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Dinesh Karthik, Zaheer Khan, Ramesh Powar, Harbhajan Singh, S. Sreesanth, Ajit Agarkar, Joginer Sharma; Reserves: Robin Uthappa, R.P. Singh, Suresh Raina.

West Indies (from): Chris Gayle (capt.), Devon Smith, S. Chanderpaul, Runako Morton, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Reyad Emrit, Ian Bradshaw, Darren Powell.

Umpires: Billy Bowden and Amiesh Saheba; Third umpire: G.A. Pratapkumar; Fourth umpire: S. Ravi: Match Referee: Alan Hurst.

Hours of play: 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; 6.45 p.m. onwards.

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