India call Harbhajan for final spin of dice

“There are likely to be hardly any changes in the team,” Indian captain Saurav Ganguly told Reuters on Thursday. “Harbhajan Singh will come into the side for Kumble. We really missed Anil in the remainder of the Test,” Ganguly said. “He was bowling so well and could have certainly made a difference.”

“Harbhajan is an excellent bowler, with lots of tricks up his sleeve. We know he can make a difference in the side,” Ganguly said.

The 21-year-old bowler had shot into the limelight after grabbing 32 Australian wickets to lead India to a stunning 2-1 home series win last year.

India, who have toyed with three different opening partners for Shiv Sundar Das in this series, have finally settled for Wasim Jaffer after his two consecutive half-centuries.

The 24-year-old from Bombay notched up a career-best 86 at the Antigua Recreation Ground last week to cement his place in the side.

India had opened with wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta in the first drawn Test at Georgetown and with all-rounder Sanjay Bangar in their 37-run win at Trinidad.

India’s wicketkeeping problems have also been firmly and finally solved with Ajay Ratra notching up his maiden Test century at Antigua after almost being left out of the match for Dasgupta due to his poor form with the bat.

The 20-year-old ended a run of 0, 2, 1, 13 with an unbeaten 115, a hallmark of which was his inclination to play shots freely. He ended up with the Man-of-the-match award in a game that also saw VVS Laxman, Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul score hundreds.

West Indies, who had bowled India out for 102 while winning the second Test at Barbados by 10 wickets, could bring leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine into the side.