Reserves to get a chance to prove their worth

Fresh from the thrilling win in the second Test, the Indian cricket team is looking to give its reserve bench a chance to stake claims for battles ahead, in the three-day game against Busta XI, starting on Friday.

The tourists are almost certain to rest the four bowlers who played in the second Test - off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, and speedsters Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan - and likely to try out Tinu Youhanan, Sarandeep Singh and Anil Kumble, against a side that is no pushovers by any means, having a number of national players in their ranks.

It is a piquant situation for Kumble, India's most successful bowler, who is confronted with the task of winning back his berth for the remaining three Tests.

A good showing in the match against a team of past and present West Indian Test cricketers would definitely boost his chances for the third Test in Barbados next week though it may not be enough.

Unlike its two previous wins in the West Indies, in 1971 and 1976, India's victory at Queen's Park Oval, in Port of Spain, this time was built around a three-pronged pace attack that performed quite well. They look to be automatic selections for the third Test with the Kensington Oval pitch at Barbados probably being the fastest in the West Indies.

Still, competition in the bowling department only augurs well for the Indians who, despite their win, have plenty of issues to settle before they resume their campaign in the third Test.

The biggest worry for the Indians is the opening slot which shows no signs of being sorted out. Neither Deep Dasgupta nor Sanjay Bangar have looked comfortable in this series and the indifferent form of Shiv Sunder Das has only made matters worse for the Indians.

Both Dasgupta and Bangar are likely to play tomorrow. Despite Dasgupta's continued blunders behind the wicket, he might get the nod for the third Test if he performs well with the bat here. His replacement, Ajay Ratra, has looked inadequate with the bat and has only meant a longer tail for the Indians.

The Indians may also be tempted to try out the other specialist opener in their ranks, Wasim Jaffer. Jaffer and Dinesh Mongia are still to get a match on this tour and they fit in the role of an opener and an all-rounder respectively.

For the hosts, Ridley Jacobs's appointment as the captain of the Busta XI is an indication he is back in reckoning on account of Junior Murray's poor run with the bat in the first two Tests. Jacobs hasn't been in the best of form in the last six months but Murray's performance has given him an opening.

Darren Ganga of Trinidad has an opportunity to upstage veteran Stuart Williams out of the opener's slot while the two Hinds - Ryan and Wavell, one an all-rounder and the other a middle order batsman - have also a lot to play for in this game.

The home team also includes fast bowler Pedro Collins as another cricketer who has represented West Indies in recent past. All-rounder Runako Morton and Kerry Jeremy have also worn West Indian colours though only in the one-day internationals.

Among the bowlers, off-spinner Gareth Breese of Jamaica, the top wicket-taker in the Busta Shield this year, and fast bowlers Darren Powell and Tino Best would be watched with interest by the West Indian selectors.

Teams:

India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Shiv Sunder Das, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V V S Laxman, Dinesh Mongia, Wasim Jaffer, Sanjay Bangar, Deep Dasgupta, Ajay Ratra, Anil Kumble, Tinu Youhanan, Sarandeep Singh, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh.

Busta XI: Ridley Jacobs (capt), Tino Best, Gareth Breese, Pedro Collins, Daren Ganga, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Kerry Jeremy, Rinako Morton, Darren Powell, Dinanath Ramnaraine, Devon Smith.

Mail Cricket Editor