Jaffer may get one more chance

Only Sourav Ganguly and Munaf Patel availed of an optional training session on Christmas Eve, as the Indian team took it easy ahead of one final workout on Monday. The two-day game against a Kwazulu-Natal Invitation XI provided some respite from the monotony of net practice, and the return of Munaf after a month out with a sore ankle was a massive boost.

Munaf was on target from the first ball he bowled, and though he didn't go full pelt, there were enough encouraging signs over the eight overs he bowled to tempt the team management to take a risk at Kingsmead. VRV Singh was adequate back-up at the Wanderers, without threatening as much as Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth did. Munaf did a sterling job against England and also in the West Indies, and his accuracy allied to the bounce he extracts makes him an appealing option, even as first change.

Irfan Pathan's wretched showing with the ball in the warm-up game destroyed whatever little hope he might have had of making it into the XI. His batting has come on tremendously in recent times, even as his bowling has declined dramatically. His presence would have given Indian an allround option, but it's not one they'll exercise as long as his bowling is so bereft of inspiration.

Victory at the Wanderers was achieved primarily because India's inexperienced pace trio comfortably out-bowled the opposition. Greg Chappell had no doubt that a change in the mindset had played a massive part in bringing out such spectacular success. "Most bowlers hate to be driven straight down the ground," he told Cricinfo. "But if you don't pitch the ball up on these pitches, you drastically reduce your chances of getting wickets. No good batsman will ever be bounced out. If you make them drive, you always have a chance.

"We had to convince our bowlers that they needed to keep it up to the batsmen, and forget about the odd shot that went for four. I thought they bowled beautifully. Sreesanth's use of the seam was exceptional. We shouldn't expect him to do that every game, but if he can manage it on a consistent basis, it'll be a priceless asset."

Much of the conjecture at the practice match revolved around whether Gautam Gambhir, who made 79 in quick time, would replace Wasim Jaffer at the top of the order. Gambhir has always pillaged mediocre attacks, without suggesting that he has the wherewithal to flourish at the highest level. Jaffer, who has just 30 runs from eight innings on this tour, may yet get a final chance, with the powers that be tacitly admitting that they made a mistake by bringing him out for the one-day leg of the tour.

Chappell has always believed that it's better to give a man one Test too many than one too few, and Jaffer could be the beneficiary of that philosophy. After the most woeful of starts to the tour, it will be up to him to prove that the faith isn't misplaced. His opening partner, Virender Sehwag, hasn't been any more convincing, but he has been working diligently on his game in the week leading up to the second Test. "Viru's really focussed on what he needs to do," said Chappell. "He's getting into line, and I think we'll see a big innings from him before the tour's over."

Though only Ganguly and VVS Laxman went past 50 in the first Test, it was the grit and patience they showed as a unit that helped clinch the game. With the exception of Jaffer, everyone chipped in with vital runs at important junctures, and for perhaps the first time in recent memory, a massive win was clinched without a sizeable contribution from Rahul Dravid.

Over the past few seasons, Indian performances abroad have been characterised by an inability to finish off a job well started. They squandered a 1-0 lead in the West Indies in 2002, and victories at Adelaide and Multan were followed by crushing nine-wicket defeats. That lack of consistency has prevented them from challenging the likes of Australia, and if they do go on to seal the most famous series win in their history, it'll be the best Christmas present that Indian cricket has ever had.