Different ball game for Mishra

After a brief net session,leg-spinner Amit Mishra moves towards the central square. There is a resigned look on his face,and his fears seem justified....

After a brief net session,leg-spinner Amit Mishra moves towards the central square. There is a resigned look on his face,and his fears seem justified. The 22-yard strip prepared for the North vs South Duleep Trophy game looks all set to enhance its reputation as a certified batting paradise.

The worrying lines on Mishras forehead increase because of several disturbing thoughts in his mind. He has to bowl with the less-friendly Kookaburra ball and the batsmen in the South Zone squad are masters of playing spin. Though VVS Laxman will be missing the game with an ankle strain,Rahul Dravid,Robin Uthappa,S Badrinath and Dinesh Karthik look menacing.

The leggie has proved to be Anil Kumbles worthy replacement in the two-Test series at home but his show in the Duleep Trophy will provide the last impression to the national selectors when they sit to pick the team for the New Zealand tour. The decision-makers will scrutinise Mishras effectiveness with the Kookaburra ball as thats the make the team will be using in New Zealand too.

It will be a challenge, Mishra says as he tries to get a perfect grip on the ball in his hand. I did well against Australia and England but the real test will be here. It is not only Rahul bhai but the other players too. They all use their feet well against spin bowling.

Mishra is trying hard to keep New Zealand out of his mind since he isnt keen to put more pressure on himself. Im not thinking about New Zealand,let me get wickets here first, he says.

North Zone skipper Aakash Chopra says Mishra will be the key bowler,but ask him about his teams chances,and the Kookaburra ball crops up again. This will be our first match while South has already played one. It will be the first time our bowlers will be bowling with a Kookaburra ball,they dont have much idea about it, he says.

squads

South: S Badrinath (capt),

Abhinav Mukund,Robin Uthappa,Rahul Dravid,Arjun Yadav,Dinesh Karthik (wk),R Ashwin,Shadab Jakati,L Balaji,S Sreesanth,Vinay Kumar,Saurav Babdekar,M Suresh,Anoop Pai

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North: Aakash Chopra (capt),Amit Mishra (vc),S Dhawan,Sangram Singh,V Kohli,S Sohal,R Dewan,A Kakkar,Uday Kaul (wk),C Nanda,Sarandeep Singh,MS Gony,VS Malik,P Awana,Rajat Bhatia,S Baigh