High intensity clash in the most laid back venue in India

I have not been to the West Indies. On television one sees the steel bands, the Merlin rum flowing and people dancing in the posse while Brian Charles Lara takes a ball from outside the off stump and effortlessly heaves it over midwicket. But this is Goa, not the Caribbean. And yet, the atmosphere suggests that you can expect no less. After all, both India and Australia are on edge with the series tied at 2-2.

Just 100 overs remain to separate victors from the vanquished. Both Steve Waugh and Sourav Ganguly have their own reasons for needing this triumph badly. In normal circumstances, as in the highly charged Test series, one would be tempted to say that the team that wanted the victory would come out on top.

However, One-Day cricket is never about normal circumstances. In anything, expecting the unexpected is the norm. Games swing this way and that with teams batting first dominating to a large extent. In this series one thing seems clear - a 300 plus total is almost always a winning total. And a winning total by a large margin at that. Anything around the 250 mark or less is eminently attainable on the flat wickets served up. There is however one scenario in which a cracker of a game can be envisioned. If Australia bat first and post a total of about 270-280, India will be very much in the running. That is what the crowds of Goa want, resulting in an Indian victory of course.

Cricket matches are often complex affairs, with numerous variables playing a part in the end result. On this tour however, two particular aspects have played a dominant role - the toss and the condition of the pitch. By and large, wickets for the limited overs have been flat. With the exception of the wicket at Pune, which looked patchy and yet played true, all tracks have been even, hard and full of runs. Goa too is no exception. The wicket is a belter, and there's little or no chance of it acting up. Given this, the toss will play a very vital part.

Pundits and former cricketers alike have argued that the series has been dominated too much by the team that won the toss. True enough, but how could things be different? With summer almost on the subcontinent, there is little chance of the ball swinging around in hot and humid conditions. If there is something in the pitch that causes concern, the staging occasion is likely to be black listed. Indore has suffered the consequences, with a crucial India - Sri Lanka match being called off after just three overs were bowled.

The composition of the teams then must count for something. What with Australia's 'rotation policy' and all. Whether the policy was bluster or a genuine long term planned will be evident when Australia name their playing XI for the series decider. If Steve Waugh continues to chop and change, one would be forced to concede that he is indeed a man of foresight. However one can't see the Aussie skipper taking too many chances.

For India the dilemmas are entirely different. The entire team picks itself with the exception of one slot. The bits and pieces all rounder's slot is still wide open with Robin Singh failing to do enough in a losing cause at Vishakapatnam. From the comfort of television studios, various former cricketers and self proclaimed experts have been calling for the inclusion of hard hitting southpaw Yuvraj Singh in that slot. It must be remembered that the Punjab lad destroyed the Australians in an innings of 84 at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Knock Out Trophy at Kenya. Known to be a favourite of the captain, Yuvraj Singh might just sneak past the veteran from Tamil Nadu. Surprise weapons are all very well. They tend to come off all the time. It's simply a question of who will be surprised - the person brandishing the weapon or the intended target.