Indian spirits buoyant on Test eve

Going by the manner in which the touring Indian team is going about their practice sessions in Melbourne, one would not think that this is a side which lost the first Test at Adelaide eleven days ago by 285 runs and has had a rather rough tour of Australia so far. The players seem to have been uplifted by the Christmas spirit and there are positive signs that the Indians are hopeful of doing much better in the second Test which commences at the MCG on Sunday.

It's not been a very productive year for Indian cricket. They shared the two Test series against Pakistan in January-February and then failed to qualify for the final of the three team Asian Test Championship. They just about made it to the Super Six stage in the World Cup but their failure to qualify for the semifinals was a big blow to millions of their fans all over the world. Their performance in the one day competitions in various corners of the world has been anything but satisfactory. Then at home, they just about got the better of New Zealand in both the Test series and the one day matches when they were expected to score easy victories, given their tremendous record at home. And midway through the tour `Down Under' they have had a torrid time both with bat and ball and the Mongia episode has left a bad taste in the mouth.

However all this is past history as far as the Indian team management is concerned. ``We are all fired up. We are going into this Test in a very positive frame of mind. We know we have to win this match if we are going to win the series.'' That was Sachin Tendulkar speaking on Friday. The charismatic Indian captain seems ready to meet fire with fire. And if anything, the more adventurous Indian coach Kapil Dev has actually welcomed the preparation of a bouncy track at the MCG. ``I would be disappointed if it is not bouncy. Give us a bouncy wicket any day. I want a bouncy track. With the kind of bowlers we have, India's best chances rest only if the bowlers get some help from the pitch,'' said Kapil Dev, while leaving the Australian mediamen surprised. He also expressed confidence that it would not be long before his batsmen start delivering the goods and ``maybe they could start right here at the MCG''.

At Adelaide the Indians had reduced the Australians to 52 for four on the first morning only for the home team to bounce back to register an emphatic victory. That obviously still rankles in Tendulkar's mind. ``We got into a potentially match winning position but were unable to finish it off. I don't think we will be giving the Australians a second chance. We will give as good as we get,'' he said in a chat with reporters at the MCG after an elongated practice session.

Even though the Indians could not have benefitted much from their four day game at Hobart, the team management would seem to have no selection problems in naming the playing eleven for the Test. S Ramesh and VVS Laxman will open the innings. It is interesting to note that the duo, who opened the innings in January against Pakistan in Chennai are again on duty in the last Test of the year. But of course a lot of changes have taken place as regards the opening pair in between January and December.

Ramesh and Laxman will be followed in the order by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly. Left hander Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who came in as a late replacement for the injured Ajay Jadeja looks set to take the No 6 spot in making his Test debut.

With Mongia back in India and MSK Prasad being pronounced fit, there is no more speculation about the wicketkeeper's spot. Prasad did not have a bad match in Adelaide and that should boost his confidence. The bowling line up should be the same that was on duty in the first Test - Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble. All of them could get more help from the MCG wicket than they got at Adelaide and it certainly is the strongest team the Indians can field at the moment. Whether it is good enough to beat Australia is of course highly debatable.

The Australians are on a high. With five victories in a row already (one against Zimbabwe, a clean sweep 3-0 win over Pakistan and one against India) they will be keen to make it six in a row. At the moment it would seem that they would be baulked in their efforts more by the weather rather by the Indians. Rain has been forecast during the Test. But for this factor, the Australians will again start as favourites. If anything, their team would seem to be even stronger than the one they fielded at Adelaide with the inclusion of Brett Lee. The 23-year-old New South Wales speedster is already a celebrity, even though he is yet to play a Test. Going by the manner in which he has handled the media, he seems to be a level headed, ambitious young man who loves to bowl fast. He took even a question about his action which has raised some doubts in his stride. ``I have never been called in my life and I know my action is clean. I am not bothered about what may have been written about me.'' If his speedy deliveries are as straight as his talk, the Indians could be in for real trouble.

Another bowler who is keenly looking forward to the Test is Shane Warne. For one thing, it is his home ground and a showman like him who loves performing on the cricketing stage has always done well before his adoring fans. Secondly, he has an objective to fulfil, being just six wickets short of Dennis Lillee's all time Australian record of 355 Test scalps. The 30-year-old ace leg spinner did harass the Indians at Adelaide in taking six wickets and on a bouncer MCG pitch could be even more devastating.

With Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming as pace spearheads, the Australian bowling is in more than capable hands. And the batting as they showed in Adelaide has enough class to run up big totals. It also has considerable depth, as they displayed in the first Test while recovering from 52 for four to run up a total of 441 and as they showed in winning the second and third Tests against Pakistan. And Mark Waugh, who will be playing his 99th Test, seems determined to end his poor run which has seen him get past 13 in only two of his last 15 Test innings. Indeed, if the weather holds out, it is difficult not to see the Australians wrapping up the series at Melbourne, notwithstanding the buoyant mood of the visitors.