Ganguly and India look to seal series at Chennai

Let's face it; on the eve of the second Test between India and the West Indies at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, few people are expecting an epic clash. A strong Indian team on wickets that suit it to a T, bolstered by a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, take on a beleaguered West Indies outfit struggling to come to terms with both batting and bowling deficiencies. This Test, simply put, is do-or-die for the West Indies, and for the hosts, the best chance to seal the series and lay the foundations for a rare whitewash.

But of course, speaking to either Carl Hooper or Sourav Ganguly would get you statements of how cricket is a funny game, how the game is not over till the last ball is bowled, and several other similar platitudes that fill column-inches but rarely convey anything of import. "We have obviously beaten India before. We have the confidence that we can do it here. We plan to play well over the next five days and take it from there," said Hooper after a grueling practice session under the blazing Chennai sun. The skipper added, "We came back from the Trinidad loss a few months ago, we hope we can put the Bombay Test behind us this time."

The only problem with that logic is that this is not the West Indies. "The wicket looks good and hard, and it'll have some bounce early on. But it seems pretty similar to the wicket in Bombay, and I expect it to start turning soon," said Ganguly.

As always, in the lead-up to a Test match, the 22-yard strip that comprises the wicket is the topic of lengthy debate. When Hooper spoke about the wicket, it was obvious that he was not exactly enthused by what he saw. "There's not a blade of grass on the wicket, and it looks fairly dry, even drier than Bombay. I expect it'll start turning square pretty soon and the spinners will have a big role to play," said Hooper.

Then again, there is little point in harping about the wicket or the weather. If it is India, the wicket will aid turn from early in the match, the weather is more than likely to be oppressive, and the spinners will come to the fore for a variety of reasons. Ganguly, however, believes that taking wickets is not so much the spinners' prerogative as a team challenge. "All five bowlers will play a decisive role. It's how you deliver in different stages of the game that matters. Zaheer Khan's spell at Bombay, getting four wickets on a very dull pitch, tilted the game in our favour," explained the Indian skipper.

Whether the spinners are in operation or the pacemen, the West Indians must rise to the challenge and bat well - and bat long. That was something they completely failed to do in the first Test at Mumbai, being bowled out for 157 and 188. "We were very disappointed by the batting in the first game. Everyone from number one to 11 was guilty," said Hooper. There was, to give credit where it is due, one man in that lot who was much less guilty than the others ­- Shivnarine Chanderpaul. The Guyana middle-order batsman, who made 54 and 36 not out in the first Test, spent more than six hours in the middle.

Ganguly admitted that Chanderpaul posed a bit of a worry for the Indians. "Chanderpaul has made a lot of runs against India. This is one area we need to look at. A lot of left-handers have made runs against us, from Matthew Hayden to Andy Flower to Shivnarine Chanderpaul."

The forthcoming Test match provides a personal challenge to Rahul Dravid, who has scored four tons in as many matches - and innings - leading up to this game. If he can reach three figures here, Dravid will equal legendary West Indian Everton Weekes in scoring five centuries from consecutive games. Another record beckons to the skipper. With 12 Test wins as captain, Ganguly is just two away from drawing level with India's most successful leader, Mohammad Azharuddin.

Hooper hinted earlier that there was a possibility of a few quick changes in the side that will play on Thursday. The Indians who are unlikely to change a winning combination will be least bothered about the composition of the West Indian team. Instead, they will hope to apply that age old formula for success: bat first, bat long, bat once. Then spin, spin, spin till the fat lady sings.

India: (probable) Sourav Ganguly (captain), Sanjay Bangar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Gareth Breese, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Pedro Collins, Jermaine Lawson, Daren Ganga, Darren Powell

Umpires: David Shepherd (England), Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka)

Third umpire: K Hariharan (India)

Match Referee: Mike Proctor (South Africa)