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| May 17, 2006 | Wednesday | Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1427 |
Testing time for Indian batsmen
KINGSTON (Jamaica), May 16: Indian cricket skipper Rahul Dravid's alert on West Indian fast bowlers is a reflection of how his men perceive the forthcoming battle against the quickies. The team travelled to West Indies and not got worried about their fast bowlers. The pounding of generations has left its scar.
This time around Dravid, Sehwag, Yuvraj, Dhoni and Raina face litmus test of handling the Carribbean quickies, who possess the firepower to cause discomfort to the batsmen.
Young Indian brigade face stern test of critics as well as in their own eyes as they prepare themselves for the challenge to change India's fortune outside their den.
The shaggy West Indies of today could fool critics and make Indian fans drool in anticipation but Indian batsmen know better about threat they perceive in Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor, the two pacemen who have ammunition to rattle any side.
Both bowl upwards of 90mph, are hostile and were talented enough to be picked up for international honours after just one representative match.
Meanwhile, West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara feels different kind of pitch and alien conditions would make life difficult for a jet-lagged Team India and that might help hosts upstage visitors in five-match ODI series starting on Thursday at Kingston, Jamaica.
He admits India is a tough nut to crack but Lara is not losing sleep over that.
''They are a very good one-day outfit. They have won both one day series against Pakistan and England convincingly and must be respected for that.
“But again they have travelled quite a long way and we all know how difficult it is in the Caribbean.
''The pitches will be different, atmosphere will be different, so hopefully all these things will play a part in us getting advantage,''he added.
''If we perform as a team we are capable of overhauling them.''
On a high after leading side to 5-0 ODI series win against Zimbabwe, Lara also seemed confident of continuing good run. ''You are going to see a team that has a little bit more confidence.
''Lot of people tried to downgrade it and say it's not against a very good team. But I think winning is contagious and guys are gaining some confidence.''
''I think most important thing is we've been actively playing competitive cricket and that's one of advantages we have over Indian team at present.
“The visitors are going to be tough opponents in both ODI and Test series and especially in longer version of game, his side would have to be pro-active.
''It's important for us in Test series to start in front and that's what we are going to try and focus on - being pro-active and not reactive and getting team focused from very early, from very first two sessions of Test series.
''We know they are a tough nut. I mean if Sachin (Tendulkar) comes down, likes of (Rahul) Dravid, (Virender) Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. I think they are going to be tough opposition but I feel we can hold our own.''—Agencies
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