 A different kind of wicket
If the wicket at Lahore was a sleeping beauty, the one at Faisalabad is expected by one and all to be a 'green top', to restore the balance in favour of the hosts Pakistan in the
sub continental version of the Ashes. Very often, all such speculation tends to be idle and so much hyperbole rather than based on any facts. Even at the start of the first Test, all the experts were convinced that there might be early life in the wicket, though it could roll out into a beauty later, with spin likely to make its presence felt on the fourth day of the Test. No one was quite prepared for the kind of surface the pitch eventually turned out to be.
When the Indians bowled, Anil Kumble was off colour and Harbhajan Singh even more so, while the medium pacers were totally ineffective; they all looked quite effective compared to the Pakistani bowlers who had to wait for 410 runs before drawing first blood, if such a strong phrase can be used to describe the belated dismissal of Virender
Sehwag.
If at all any bowler impressed in these generally depressing circumstances, it was Danish Kaneria, who, looked especially capable of taking wickets when bowling round the wicket. It was masterly batting by Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid that denied the leg spinner reward for his persistence.
The big question before the next Test will be who will be the opening pair for India? If the groundstaff roll out a seamer-friendly wicket, how advisable will it be for Rahul Dravid to partner Sehwag again? In my opinion, India should go in with two specialist openers, and that would mean either Gautam Gambhir or Wasim Jaffer going out with Sehwag. That boils down to Sourav Ganguly being dropped, and I firmly believe the selectors should be unsentimental in their decision making.
The other tricky question will be which of the two spinners should be dropped to make way for the third seamer who should be an automatic choice in case a grassy wicket is on offer for the Faisalabad Test. I don't see how India can think of discarding Anil Kumble with his very decent record against Pakistan, which means Harbhajan Singh will have to sit out. A tricky dilemma again for the team management, but one that should be based purely on the merits of the situation, rather than any sentimental considerations.
Finally, can India do it? Can they beat Pakistan in Pakistan once again? It will be much tougher than last time round, against a fit and determined Pakistan team under a more mature captain, solidly backed by the cool expertise of coach Bob Woolmer. It will take all of the ingenuity and courage that the Dravid-Chappell firm can muster to pull off another victory.
V Ramnarayan
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