Pitch at Kotla holds all the cards on the eve of Test

Things truly have moved into a higher gear in the Zimbabwean tour of India. After two warm up matches that gave the tourists more than enough time to get used to conditions in India, they have arrived at Delhi for the first of two Test matches. The Ferozeshah Kotla ground is bustling with activity, so much so that it's bordering on the chaotic. Beginning their practice session at the National Stadium, the Indian team joined the Zimbabwean team at the Kotla early this afternoon.

Touring teams find a variety of things not completely to their liking in the subcontinent. The crowds of people mobbing players everywhere, the surroundings that are not always as clean and tidy as the tourists would like. But most of all, it is the condition of pitches that puts the fear of God in visiting teams. The wicket at the Kotla gives enough room for worry for the Zimbabweans. Although there is talk of it being a flat batting track, one cannot ignore indications that it will take turn much earlier than a fair Test wicket should. Whatever little grass there was on the wicket was being scraped off as the players practiced.

The pitch also has a direct bearing on team composition. Although both Heath Streak and Sourav Ganguly said that they would make the final decision on team composition tomorrow, many of the players are automatic choices, while a few drop themselves. India are almost certain to go into the match with only two mediumpacers. Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath would be certainties to play. Sunil Joshi has both wickets and runs behind him and will be India's first choice spinner. Murali Kartik hardly got to bowl in India's victory against Bangladesh. The skipper pointedly asked the selectors for an offspinner and Sharandeep Singh was summoned. In the first warm up game against the Zimbabweans, Sharandeep Singh sent down 42 overs and could not pick up a single wicket. His inability to turn the ball appreciably or deceive batsmen through the air makes it difficult to understand how he will be any more successful if he plays in the Kotla Test.

Yuvraj Singh warmed the bench in Dhaka and it seems like that will be his case here as well. A classy bat like VVS Laxman could not get a look in and he will be hoping that his lot is a better one against Zimbabwe.

For Zimbabwe, the choices are a bit harder, although they are reasonably well endowed in the fast bowling department, with skipper Streak and Henry Olonga all set to fire on all cylinders. Young Travis Friend has a niggling injury, but he too has been getting good lift off the wicket thus far. When it comes to the spinners, who could play an important part, Zimbabwe seem to be short of quality. Paul Strang is an experienced campaigner but he will find it difficult to tie the Indians down. Brian Murphy is still a trifle inexperienced and he can't have forgotten the pasting he received at the hands of Virender Sehwag and company.

Fortunately for Zimbabwe, their batting has shaped up well. Senior members of the side, Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell have been among the runs and are leading the way. Gavin Rennie too has shown, that he can wield the bat in Indian conditions.

Tomorrow however will pose the first serious threat to the Zimbabweans. There are murmurs going around the Kotla suggesting that this Test may not go the full distance. That was exactly the kind of talk that was doing the rounds before India went to Dhaka. However, one has to remember Zimbabwe are not pushovers and India are no world beaters.