NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

India look to keep 'home' record intact

India's 13-year-reign on home soil has never looked so vulnerable as they prepare to clash with formidable South Africa in the first of two Test matches starting on Thursday.

The Indians, who have not lost a home series since 1987, are in disarray in the aftermath of the dismal tour of Australia and captain Sachin Tendulkar's stunning decision to quit the job after the current series.

Coach Kapil Dev's refusal to attend the selection committee meeting here on Sunday after being rebuffed by cricket board officials, has only added to the uncertainty clouding Indian cricket.

The morale-shattering Australian tour, where India lost all three Tests and seven of the eight one-dayers, ended just three weeks ago, leaving the team little time to regroup. Tendulkar, however, stressed that the home team was determined to forget the past and make a new start.

"That was a bad tour, but it's over," the champion batsman said, adding his decision to step down as captain would not affect him or his team-mates.

"That decision could only be taken off the field," Tendulkar said. "But when I am on the field I am fully focused on the game."

Rival captain captain Hansie Cronje, desperate to avenge the 1-2 defeat on South Africa's previous Test tour of India in 1996, believed the crisis could benefit his team.

"It's not going to be easy for the Indians to forget Australia," Cronje said. "This might work in our favour. The past tends to sometimes influence the present."

The tourists, fresh from a 2-1 win over England at home, may be without star batsman Darryl Cullinan, who is not fully recovered from a groin injury suffered during the three-day tour opener here.

"Darryl has a 50-50 chance of playing," said Cronje, who may have to bat at number four behind Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs and allrounder Jacques Kallis.

Cronje believes the early bounce on the dry Wankhede stadium wicket will help the pace quartet of Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Mortantau Hayward, before it turns later in the match.

The fiery Hayward put the recalled Mohammad Azharuddin out of action with a broken thumb, while left-arm spinner Clive Eksteen's eight wickets in the three-day match pleased his captain.

"Clive will be a great backup for the fast bowlers," Cronje said. "We are wiser and stronger after our previous tour of India. We will be ready for any situation."

The Indians may revert to their customary home strategy of opening with wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia to play five specialist batsmen and three spinners among the five bowlers.

Left-arm spinner Murli Karthik and off-break bowler Nikhil Chopra appear certain to make their Test debut as supporting partners for spin spearhead Anil Kumble.

The batting line-up will, however, only be decided on Thursday morning with newcomers Wasim Jaffer and Mohammad Kaif in contention against Venkatsai Laxman and the recalled Ajay Jadeja.

Teams:
India (from): Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Venkatsai Laxman, Wasim Jaffer, Nayan Mongia, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja, Mohammad Kaif, Anil Kumble, Nikhil Chopra, Murli Karthik, Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar.

South Africa (from): Hansie Cronje (capt), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Pieter Strydom, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Clive Eksteen, Allan Donald, Mornantau Hayward, Nicky Boje.