India hope to find winning ways under new captain

Though Kapil Dev sounded optimistic when he said, “we will start winning” — for the tide has to change somewhere, sometime — there was this attempt to find the right kind of surfaces and the right combination.

Lack of regular openers and indifferent bowling still plague this Indian side. Kapil Dev admitted the bowling was inexperienced and they were still trying to find the right combination.

But he felt there was no problem regarding openers. “We have the best batsman in the world,” the Indian coach quipped, perhaps a hint that India would open with Sachin Tendulkar and skipper Saurav Ganguly.

Ganguly’s tactics seemed logical, simple. “Get the right players at the right positions and at the right time,” but he revealed the final combination would be announced on Thursday.

The man on the hot seat now is the curator. A few days before the teams landed here, this National selector was instructing him over telephone to prepare a track best suited for the hosts. The Indian team management has made it clear that it did not want grass on the wicket nor any more rolling.

If the instructions are carried out, India may go into the match with Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi. Which means there will be a toss up between two mediumpacers T Kumaran and Amit Bhandari — and the former is likely to get the nod. The rest pick themselves.

The successful Hansie Cronje looked at peace with himself. With an abundance of talent, Cronje’s problem is getting the winning combination. “The success of our side has been the ability to strike the right balance,” he said.

Cronje has been able to take the side to a height from where they are able to do without their most successful bowler Alan Donald and the ebullient Jonty Rhodes. “No one is irreplaceable. (Nantie) Hayward, (Steve) Elworthy and (Andrew) Williams have proved to be ideal replacements for Donald. Jonty is useful in the one-day game but we have with us some brilliant one-day players in this side too, ” Cronje remarked.

The South Africans have also decided naming their final eleven only on Thursday. Unlike India, Cronje has plenty of options. Apart from the certainties, it is left to be seen whether South Africa decides to go into the match with an extra speedster or a spinner.

Lance Klusener, who is carrying a injury, will play as a batsman. He is the man the Indian bowlers will be wary of. Ganguly pointed out to `The Zulu’s’ moderate track record against India but hoped he would not come out with a blinder of a knock that has snuffed the fire out of the best of teams.

Teams: South Africa (from): Hansie Cronje (capt), Shaun Pollock, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Peter Strydom, Dale Benkenstein, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Neil McKenzie, Nicky Boje, Steve Elworthy, Derek Crookes, Momantau Hayward and Henry Williams.

India (from): Saurav Ganguly (captain), Ajay Jadeja, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sameer Dighe, Robin Singh, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Sunil Joshi, Nikhil Chopra, Amit Bhandari, T Kumaran and Mohammed Kaif.

Umpires: MR Singh and CR Vijayaraghavan. Third umpire: LP Verma. Fourth umpire: KN Raghavan.

Hours of play: 9 am to 12.30 pm; 1.15 pm to 4.45 pm.