Can Windies prevent series loss? (Preview)

West Indian players must have done some good deeds before the second test at Barbados for weather played as their twelfth man saving them from what would have been a crushing defeat. Without rain the series in all likelihood would have been done and dusted by now in favour of India. But, as things stand the hosts can still salvage some pride by thwarting the Dhoni led side from clinching the series. An outright win in last of the three test series at Windsor Park is the only way to accomplish that.

Looking at what the Windies batsmen have achieved in four home tests this year against Pakistan and India, one can’t help but point out Christopher Gayle’s absence. However, the swashbuckling Jamaican’s outburst against WICB last week was probably last nail in the coffin as far as his selection in the team is concerned. It seems his stroke play would be seen in lucrative T20 tournaments only for the time being. So Darren Sammy and Co. has no choice but to learn to survive without him.

The selectors keeping the “brave” selection policy alive have made one more debatable change- senior pro Ramnaresh Sarwan has been drooped, rookie Kieron Powell drafted into the side at his expense would compete with Kirk Edwards for the number 3 spot in the otherwise fragile batting order. Over the years Sarwan has proved his mettle time and again at the highest level, but his numbers from the current season suggest otherwise. 83 runs in eight innings from a batter of his caliber are just not good enough, in situations like the one Windies are in, experienced hands are expected to lead by example and not be dead-wood in the team.

Talking of non-performers and numbers the curious case of Darren Sammy pops up in the mind. He has taken five wickets in the series so far at an average of 38 and given the fact that he is in the team as an all-rounder, he hasn’t done too badly. Harbhajan Singh, India’s main spinner has similar figures- five scalps at 35 a piece. Still, the calls for Sammy’s head have grown louder by the day. The West Indian captain, though can silence his detractors by picking a bowler preferably Kemar Roach in place of a batsman and promote himself to the number 6 position. This would definitely be an attacking option aimed at securing a win and not letting India take away the series.

For visitors, the plan should be a lot simpler. Somehow scarp a draw and win the series 1-0. But, Dhoni has made his intentions of maximizing the returns in the present series clear by going for an aggressive declaration in the last game; his valiant effort at forcing a result that would have paved way for a possible clean sweep only for soggy weather to come in the way. With a grueling England tour starting later this month, India would try to win convincingly at Dominica to build some kind of winning momentum and elevate their standing as the number one test team in the world.

That however shouldn’t be a problem if young brigade in the team performs well. Barring Praveen Kumar and Abhinav Mukund it has been a disappointing tour thus far for the new recruits. For the same reason likes of Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay and Subramanian Badrinath failed to make the cut for upcoming England tour. They, however, can redeem themselves in the last test match to further strengthen their case for a test selection in near future if and when an opportunity arises.

As long as Indian team has batsmen of the class of Dravid and Laxman, the batting worries are at a minimum even if big guns like Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gambhir are cooling their heels for one reason or other. It is the bowling department that has thrown up unexpected results if not totally surprising. Ishant Sharma was a treat to watch at Barbados, tormenting the batsmen with everything a pace bowler has to offer- pace, bounce, movement and above all smart thinking. First ten-wicket haul and 100 wickets in tests in the same match are sure signs that Ishant is maturing as a bowler and would be an asset in the years to come. Abhimanyu Mithun though a hard-working bowler has to add few variations to his repertoire to succeed at the test level.

The one area of concern would be Harbhajan Singh’s bowling form. May be his batting has been a revelation in the past two years, but his primary job in the team is to take wickets which doesn’t seem to be happening now. His reputation as a quality spinner is fast dwindling and it wouldn’t be long before people question his place as he seems to be going the Irfan Pathan way.

SQUADS

West Indies: Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh (wk), Darren Sammy (Capt), Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Devendra Bishoo, Kirk Edwards, Kemar Roach, Kieron Powell.

India: Abhimanyu Mithun, Abhinav Mukund, Amit Mishra, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, MS Dhoni (Capt & Wk), Munaf Patel, Murali Vijay, Parthiv Patel (wk), Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, Rahul Dravid, S Badrinath, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, VVS Laxman.