Sachin and Ganguly scare Cronje the most

The message is for all: Ganguly is no backseat driver. He will go all out to instil optimism in his now-passive teammates’ hearts. Even if it means annoying some people. No doubt, this aggression has also earned him the respect of opponents, Cronje — who is known to be quite ruthless — included.

Call it Act Two of the drama, or merely an extension of the recently-concluded ODI series which India won 3-2, both India and South Africa square up again on Wednesday in the day-night Coca Cola Cup tri-series cricket tournament at the Sharjah Stadium.

South Africa is playing for pride after being stung by the recent defeats. While, the series-win has already put India on the redemption trail, after the pounding in Australia and the subsequent nightmarish two-Test series at home.

Right now, it’s the play-on-sub-continent-wicket and feel-good theory that rules. The sub-continent wickets are Indian batsmen’s bread and butter, with some champagne thrown in. Going by the hard and placid wicket here, they should relish the feast, more so with the South Africans missing a paceman in the class of Allan Donald.

Apart from Ganguly’s dramatically-improved state of mind, Tendulkar’s last two innings must have given him some comfort. One couldn’t have kept the virtuoso tied down for long and he just needed something to claw his way back into the mainstream. Sharjah brings back memories of his amazing back-to-back centuries against the Australians two years back and Tendulkar’s return to form would send ominous signals to South Africa and Pakistan.

The main worry for India is their pedestrian bowling. Their pacers have been off-colour with only spinners doing some damage. Match after match, Ganguly has had to depend on Tendulkar’s spinning fingers but it speaks poorly for the frontline bowlers.

South Africa got off to good start in almost all the games in India and it is here that Ganguly would wish his bowlers to show some penetration. Otherwise, the team can’t chase a 300-plus total in every match.

Even South Africa are not too good in this department. Bowlers like Dale Benkenstein and Pieter Strydom are ordinary, Lance Klusener can’t bowl full steam while Shaun Pollock is not at his best. An injured Henry Williams is being sent home and Carl Welloughby is being flown in. The South Africans, who last played here in ’96 and won all their matches in the title hunt, they will play under lights here for the first time.

Teams (from)

India: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh, Saba Karim, Sunil Joshi, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Ajit Agarkar, Nikhil Chopra, S Sriram and Mohammed Kaif.

South Africa: Hansie Cronje (captain), Gary Kirsten, Herchelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Neil McKenzie, Shaun Pollock, Pieter Strydom, Dale Benkentstein, Steve Elworthy, Derek Crookes, Mornantau Hayward, Makhaya Ntini and Carl WelloughbyUmpires: John Hampshire (England) and Daryl Harper (Australia), Third umpire: Peter Manuel (Sri Lanka).
Match referee: Raman Subba Rao (England)

Hours of play (IST): 4.30-8 pm and 8.45 till end of play

INDIA-SOUTH AFRICA ONE-DAY ENCOUNTERS

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

P – I won – SA won – Abandoned
In India 15 – 9 – 6 –
In Australia 1 – 1 –
In South Africa 12 – 2 – 9 – 1
In Sharjah 3 – 3 –
In New Zealand 1 – 1 –
In England 1 – 1 –
In Kenya 2 – 1 – 1 –
Totals 35 – 12 – 22 – 1
Highest innings totals: India: 310 in 48.5 overs at Nagpur 1999-00. South Africa: 320-7 in 50 overs at Nagpur 1999-00

Lowest innings totals: India 147 in 49.4 overs at Port Elizabeth 1992-93. South Africa: 117 in 48 overs at Nairobi 1999-00

Highest individual scores: India 122 Sachin Tendulkar at Baroda 1999-00. South Africa: 115 not out Gary Kirsten at Sharjah 1995-96, 115 Gary Kirsten at Kochi 1999-00

Best bowling: India: 5-6 Sunil Joshi at Nairobi 1999-00. South Africa: 5-25 Allan Donald at Calcutta 1991-92

S Parvez Qaiser