The Hindu : Sport : Rain clouds hover over third Test

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Friday, Dec 07, 2007
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Rain clouds hover over third Test

S. Dinakar

Shoaib Malik ruled out; Kumble to go all out for a win

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

TENSION FREE: Younis Khan, who will once again have to stand in for skipper Shoaib Malik, seems to be unperturbed by the extra responsibilities of captaincy ahead of the third Test in Bangalore.

Bangalore: The cricket caravan has moved from sunshine to dark skies. The cloud cover formed a blanket in the skies and there were periods of rain in the city here on Thursday.

The forecast predicts further showers over the next week. The weather will impact how the sides approach the third Test. This, indeed, is the time for the end game.

Sitting pretty

India sits pretty with a 1-0 lead and will benefit from any time lost during the last match of the Indian Oil series, beginning at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Pakistan needs navigational skills to survive the rough weather and then, possibly, attempt a series levelling victory.

The visitor will be without its skipper. Shoaib Malik has been ruled out the third Test.

The side’s media manager Ehsan Malik informed the media that Malik’s sprained ankle will be under a plaster for five more days. The captain still in considerable pain, is still limping. His absence means that stand-in captain Younis Khan will continue to lead the side. This could be a blessing in disguise for the visitor. Malik had appeared a young man under a siege mentally, while Younis brings with him a truck-load of positive energy.

Happy hunting ground

Younis can get under the skin of the opponent, inspire his men. Bangalore has been a happy hunting ground for him and Pakistan. The memories of a dramatic last day win here in 2005 could fuel-drive his men.

Pakistan has an extra option in the pace bowling department. The under-rated Rao Iftekar — and not Abdul Rauf as reported in certain sections of the media — has joined the side. Iftekar bowls stump to stump and achieves two-way deviation.

Despite the weather, both sides had a lively practise session. India was without the indisposed Sourav Ganguly and maestro Sachin Tendulkar, given a day off nets.

Ganguly, however, is expected to join the side before practice on Friday. India requires his services, as a left-hander in the middle-order and a swing and seam back up bowler.

Ideally, India should play three spinners on a Chinnasawmy Stadium surface that has traditionally encouraged spin. However, if the cloud covers persists as expected then the selectors and the team-management will opt for a second paceman. The host has wisely decided not to risk Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel, both of whom have fitness concerns, before the Test campaign in Australia.

Irfan Pathan and V.R.V. Singh could form a left-right combination of different angles. Pathan swings the ball while the big and strong V.R.V. Singh hits the deck.

Area of concern

The bowlers would require support from the fielders. Catching was a definite area of concern for the Indians in Kolkata. Skipper Anil Kumble highlighted this shortcoming at the Eden Gardens.

The genial leg-spinner was the cynosure at the Chinnaswmay Stadium. He will be leading the country on his home ground for the first time.

The India skipper realises that a negative approach could prove fatal for the host. India, he has indicated, would strive to wrap up the series 2-0.

Kumble would also seek a bucket of runs from his Karnataka colleague Rahul Dravid. The accomplished top-order batsman has looked good without being able construct a monument. He is a big match player and is due for big runs.

For this, he would need to break his Bangalore jinx.

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