Kolkata, Nov 27: With the two-match ban on skipper Sourav Ganguly being revoked, a buoyed India take on South Africa in the second cricket Test here tomorrow, desperate for a win which will not only seal the series for them but also salvage pride after some flop shows in recent times. The uncertainty over Ganguly's availability finally over, India would be looking to their skipper -- much relaxed after a two-week ordeal -- to inspire the team at his home ground and outsmart the visitors who have proved that they are no pushovers. A 500 plus score as well as a first innings lead in the drawn Kanpur Test is bound to have boosted the confidence of the visitors as India's coach John Wright remarked.

In contrast, the desperation in the Indian ranks is evident from Ganguly's comments. "This is a very important match for us, and we need to win and take the series," he said. For the Indians, the biggest gain from Kanpur is the performance of openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who were involved in a brilliant 218-run stand at the Green Park, raising hopes that India's worries in this department could be finally over. Sehwag, who has already amassed more than a thousand runs in this calender year, would definitely want to continue from where he left in the first Test to give a flying start to the Indian innings at the Eden Gardens.

Delhi boy Gambhir, who fell just four short of his maiden hundred in what was only his second Test, also needs to continue the good work to cement his place in the squad. But more than any other batsman, the Kolkata crowd would be rooting for their hero Ganguly and hoping to see the southpaw wield the willow in style and lead the team from the front. Ganguly has been in good form and now that the weight of worry over his appeal against the two-match ban imposed on him for slow over rate in the November 13 match against Pakistan is off his mind, he can concentrate on the job at hand better. A cracker of an innings from the local favourite would surely help in getting the momentum going for the hosts, whose famed batting line up did show signs of returning to top form in the Kanpur Test.

A big innings is also due from Sachin Tendulkar, who has managed only 73 runs in the last five innings at an average of 14.6. A great personal milestone also beckons the star batsman, who is only one ton away from equalling Sunil Gavaskar's world record of 34 Test hundreds. The majestic Eden Gardens may well be witness to another historic moment if the veteran leg spinner Anil Kumble succeeds in adding five more wickets to his tally to surpass Kapil Dev's haul of 434 victims, the highest by an Indian in Test cricket. The Karnataka bowler, who bagged six wickets in Kanpur, has been in fine form in recent matches, and is likely to be the main bowling weapon of the home side.

Wright hinted that India could go into the match with two pacers and two spinners, a change from the strategy from Kanpur where India went in with one pacer and three spinners which resulted in Ganguly sharing the new ball with Zaheer Khan. Off spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has pleasant memories of the venue where he got a hat-trick against the mighty Australians in 2001, is likely to partner Kumble, forcing left arm spinner Murali Kartik to sit out. Pacer Irfan Pathan, who missed the last two Tests against Australia following an injury and was not considered for the Kanpur Test, might be inducted as the second pacer as was indicated by Wright.

For the young South Africa side, Andrew Hall has been a revelation. Pushed up to the crucial opener's slot, Hall justified his skipper's confidence by hitting his maiden ton (163), an effort which drew praise from one and all including skipper Graeme Smith. Smith, the batting mainstay of the touring side with an outstanding average of over 50, would also be raring to have a go at the Indian bowling which looked ordinary in Kanpur. Another man to watch out for is Zander de Bruyn, who celebrated his Test debut with a well-made 83 at Green Park. In the pace department, South Africa have the seasoned warhorse Shaun Pollock ably supported by Makhaya Ntini. Pollock, the 31-year-old former skipper of the team, is in fact only 24 runs short of getting a double (3000 runs and 300 wickets) and Eden may be the perfect setting for him to reach the landmark.

Smith has already declared that his side was looking to perform even better at the Eden and force a win. "When we go out into the ground we go with the belief that we can win. However, the Indians are the favourites as they have an experienced line up," he said. After the varying characteristics of pitches at different venues during the series against Australia as also in Kanpur, much interest centres around how the Eden wicket will behave. The authorities have said the track would be firm and offer even bounce, though the spinners might get assistance later on in the game. Wright, however, said the strip looked drier and barer than on earlier occasions. Smith said his side was prepared for the worst type of turner.

Statistically speaking, South Africa have a clear edge over India. Of the 15 Tests played between the two sides, India have lost seven, and won only two, the remaining six having been drawn. Both the wins for India have come on home soil, but here also the South Africans have a favourable 3-2 win-loss record. The visitors return to the Eden for a Test after eight long years, carrying happy memories of a crushing 329-run victory over the hosts in 1996 under the leadership of Hansie Cronje. (Agencies)

Published: Saturday, November 27, 2004

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