KSCA pitch may aid spinners

Then, Imran Khan read the pitch wrongly and dropped spinner Abdul Qadir and instead, included paceman Saleem Jaffer who did not get to bowl a single delivery on the brute of a track. Spinners Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed bowled India out with Sunil Gavaskar playing a lone battle in defeat.

Many others from that match, besides Kapil Dev, are here in different capacities: Ravi Shastri, Maninder Singh as commentators, Roger Binny KSCA office-bearer; Mohammed Azharuddin recalled as player. Srikkanth too might have been here as pitches8217; committee chairman but for the Board banning him and his committee from all grounds.

The present pitch, however gruesomely it is being painted, would still seem like a featherbed compared to that minefield. This probably suits the South Africans fine. Their batsmen continue to be at sea against the spinners, much like they were during their previous trip in 1996-97 when India won 2-1.

However, the visitors8217; pacemen have adapted much better to the conditions. They have been helped largely by the Indian-made cricket ball which has a far more pronounced seam than the Australian and English ball. This has aided seam and swing bowling, as was evident in Mumbai.

The Bangalore pitch will not be as receptive to the pacemen8217;s wares. But in skipper Hansie Cronje the South Africans have an invaluable all-rounder whose skills with ball are highly underrated. With his ability to swing and seam the ball, he has already made a huge impact on this series.

South Africa will depend on him, and their numerous all-rounders to shore both batting and bowling. For, time after time, their indifferent batting line-up has given way. But with the likes of Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher bringing up the rear, it is the sting is in the tail that is most feared.

The limitations of Indian batsmen are being exposed in a hurry. Whether the top batsmen have all lost form together, or the chinks in their armour were exposed 8212; first by the Australians and now by South Africans 8212; is difficult to tell.

In fact, if one thought the South African batsmen had two left feet against Indian spinners, the Indian batsmen, the openers in particular, have no feet at all to stand on.

With newcomer Wasim Jaffer not among runs in the first Test, a lot will depend on the other opener Sadagoppan Ramesh. Whether the Tamil Nadu opener has had sufficient match practice coming into this crucial Test is another matter altogether.

Rahul Dravid needs one good knock to regain his confidence and this Test on his home turf is the right stage for that.

Skipper Sachin Tendulkar, who may be leading in his last Test, could be depended upon to go out with a roar. If the high-flying Saurav Ganguly and Mohammed Azharuddin, back in the National side after a seven-month exile, lend some muscle to the batting, half the battle would be won.

Azharuddin, in earlier contests, took a liking to the bowling of Lance Klusener. The latter is reportedly fit. Whether this is pay-back time or a replay of earlier encounters remains to be seen.

The onus squarely rests on the Indian batsmen. If they can put enough runs on the board, this South African team will be brought down to earth. Else, South Africa might just do the unthinkable.

Teams

India FROM: Sachin Tendulkar captain, Wasim Jaffer, S Ramesh, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Mohammed Azharuddin, Mohammed Kaif, Nayan Mongia wk, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Javagal Srinath, Murali Karthik, T Kumaran and Nikhil Chopra

South Africa from: Hansie Cronje captain, Gary Kirsten, Hershelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Darryll Cullinan, Peiter Strydom, Mark Boucher wk, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Allan Donald, Nicky Boje, Mornantau Hayward, Hendrik Dippenaar, Clive Eksteen.

Umpires: AV Jayaprakash India; Russell B Tiffin Zimbabwe. Third umpire: Sudhir Asnani.

Hours of play: 10 to 12; 12.40 to 2.40; 3-5 pm. Live on DD Sports