Tendulkar apart, India hope other guns will fire as well

But this disadvantage of playing first against a top team cuts both ways. For a start, the South Africans themselves are under tremendous pressure as virtually everybody has identified them favourites to lift the Cup. This is the sort of pressure that could trip even the most stout-hearted, leave alone a side that has stumbled not once, but twice when on the threshold of glory in World Cup.

The South Africans themselves believe they are the cats of the walk, though skipper Hansie Cronje was more cautious when he said that he would not underestimate India.“They know our strengths. We have played a number of close matches which could have gone either way. It is perhaps good that two of the best teams are clashing in the first round, for after that things would be easier,” he said.

For India, however, there are no easy games. Each would be a battle to the finish. The three pacemen, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Ajit Agarkar have adapted themselves to the conditions superbly while Anil Kumble is bowling with the usual control. The support bowlers, in the form of Saurav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh and Sachin Tendulkar should hold up in these conditions.

The batting of course rides on the genius of Sachin Tendulkar. He seems to have fully recovered from the ill-effects of his bad back and was bowling with great enthusiasm in the nets. Rahul Dravid too has been in outstanding form on this tour, though the relative failure of Ganguly is a cause for worry.

If skipper Mohammed Azharuddin can stay focused, his experience of English conditionscould be a great asset. India would be hoping that all the big guns would be firing against South Africa, for that is perhaps the only way to get the better of the super all round team from the African continent.

The South Africans have tremendous depth in batting, enviable options in bowling and razor sharp fielding which in itself could fetch a wicket or two! Jacques Kallis is their most valuable player as he is a powerful striker of the ball, bowls at a lively pace and is an outstanding fielder in the slips.

Gary Kirsten whose record in England does not match his efforts elsewhere, would be hoping to set that right in this tournament while Cronje, Lance Klusner and Shaun Pollock could easily fit in as either batsmen or bowlers.

South Africa, whose base in England was Hove, are quite used to the conditions here. And that includes the mist that could drift in from the sea. Paceman Allan Donald, so experienced in English conditions, is a handful in any situation.

However the English pitches will bemore conducive to steady medium to fast medium pace rather than tearaway pace, as has been proved so often these past few years.

Cronje, nevertheless, believes that there is no typical English condition. “In India and Pakistan conditions were similar all over.

But in England conditions vary from ground to ground and from day to day and even session to session. The team that adapts best will come out on top almost always.” On the eve of the big match there is palpable air of expectancy in both camps.

The South Africans believe their time has come. India believe they have it in them to spring a surprise or two. Come Saturday, the sleepy holiday coastal resort of Hove wil be charged like never before.

Good weather is expected

HOVE: Good weather has been predicted for the crucial India – South Africa match here on Saturday. It was quite sunny today, though a strong cold wind was blowing across the ground right through the day. The ground, just a stone’s throw from the sea, looks rundown. The seating capacity may be just 6000, but even that is not well maintained.

The boundary resembles a square, rather than a circle. The slope towards the sea end is quite pronounced and the outfield looks fast. The pavilion, press box and even some stands are anything but facilities befitting a world class venue. And to think this stadium (surely a misnomer) is to host an important World Cup match!

These apart, the local bowlers who helped out at the nets were awful. They looked schoolboy standard. So much so a despairing Indian team management had an additional net some distance away and had these bowlers sending down their wares to the likes of Debashish Mohanty.