India must play two spinners at Jamaica

The flat track at the Antigua Recreation Ground meant that the fourth Test was always going to yield a high-scoring draw. The home team had won the previous Test in Barbados and leveled the series 1-1. Clearly the momentum was with the West Indies, and one expected them to build on it. It was then shocking to see a dry and docile track bereft of grass laid out for the Test match; a very negative move by the West Indies authorities who denied their team a chance of gaining the lead in the series.

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It is apparent that both teams misread the track and relied on pace in this Test match. So much so that India decided to leave out Harbhajan Singh to bring in Anil Kumble. I have always maintained that the Indian team should play to its strength spin. Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh are world-class spinners and even if their record while playing abroad is not very good, they would have proved a deadly duo on this track.

The toss didn't make any great difference; I reckon that India would have opted to bat first anyhow. So it was up to the Indians to cash in on Hooper's generosity.

The Indian innings though did not get off to the best of starts. Shiv Sunder Das is having a wretched time against the short-rising deliveries. I feel sorry for the lad; he has to work on improving his technique. His partner Wasim Jaffer looks to be a sound opening batsman. He has the right technique and most importantly he always looks to get behind the line of the ball.

I was also delighted to see Ajay Ratra show a lot of application on his way to his maiden Test hundred. It was an innings that put an end to the loose talk by some of the pundits. The game of cricket is easy when played from a distance. The fact that some of these pundits were nicknamed `strokeless wonders' in their playing days is something that we would do well to remember.

Ganguly's decision to prolong the innings after Ratra got to his hundred baffled me a lot. By doing so, the Indian skipper denied his bowlers the chance of bowling a few extra overs that evening, which might have seen them grabbing a few more wickets. Remember, the West Indies were under tremendous pressure that evening after Brian Lara fell for a low score to Anil Kumble. Talking about Kumble, it was heartening to see him come out and bowl with a broken jaw. He bowled really well, maintaining a good line and length, which is the key for success on such docile tracks.

With Kumble being injured, Tendulkar, who had to suffer the mortification of being out for a gloden duck, was the one genuine spin option India had. I was then surprised to see Tendulkar show a greater inkling to bowl off-spin than leg-spin. I felt his leg-breaks would definitely have proved more effective.

I am sure that India really missed the services of Harbhajan Singh. The off-spinner would have been able to exploit the rough outside the off-stump of the left-handed batsmen. Remember, the West Indies team was packed with five left-handed batsmen.

The cricket from both the teams was defensive from the outset and it continued to be so, all through the five days. Never did I find any sense of urgency or purpose from either side. Such game-plans are not in the best interest of the game and are better forgotten.

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As for India, the sight of Srinath struggling to generate pace must be a worrying. The senior fast bowler looked jaded and it is about time the think-tank had a close look at their game-plan. I would still back India to win if they were to play two spinners rather than place absolute faith in pace.

The West Indies bowlers will be going after the Indian batsmen at Sabina Park. Our think-tank has to realise that it is no good to settle for a draw. The boys should go out with a positive frame of mind to win the Test match. This is indeed their last chance to return home wreathed in glory.