It is entirely apt that the first Test of the 2005 series between India and Pakistan starts at Mohali. Apart from the ground being one of the prettiest in the world, it is the nearest venue for Pakistani supporters to come over to witness the game. The culture is pretty much the same as across the border and the language definitely so. Having seen the pitch three days before, even that looks more friendly for the visitors than the home team. Unless, of course, the coating of grass has been taken away it is a pitch that will definitely help the new-ball bowlers especially if the weather stays overcast and murky. Summer is just setting in so there may not be as much dew on the pitch as say in Dec. to Feb. but there’s not doubt the opening batsmen are not going to have an easy time.
Of course, to Sehwag it makes little difference and though he has said in a column recently that he tells himself to leave a lot more balls in the first hour, his instinct does not always allow him to do so. Not that he cannot play a waiting game, for the century he got at Trent Bridge, Nottingham in 2002 when the ball was moving like a boomerang, showed that he can play watchfully too. There he scored less than 30 before lunch when the ball was seaming, cutting, bouncing and then after the pitch had settled down, he blazed to a century in a little over an hour after lunch. He might not rank it as his best but from the team’s point of view it was an inning that turned the game around.
A big hue and cry is being made over his opening partner but Gautam Gambhir has shown good application in the opportunities he has had so far. There really is no one else, for Chopra is in woeful form and the other contender Jadhav will have to wait his turn. Yuvraj has found that opening the innings is an altogether different cup of tea and is now categorical that he does not want to do so.
India’s batting is experienced and the Pakistani bowling is a bit inexperienced though. Razaq has been around for some time but even inexperienced bowlers can bowl the wicket-taking ball and it takes a batsman just one mistake to spend the rest of the day watching from the pavilion. India’s bowling has the variety to take wickets but whether they will play both Kumble and Harbhajan will depend on the kind of surface that will be seen on the morning. In all probability India will go in for three seamers and with Balaji showing good return to form, they will include him to bring a bit of variety as the other three new-ball bowlers are all left-handed. India’s fielding needs sharpening and that’s an area where a lot of work has to be done. They have some fabulous slip fielders but cutting the fours to threes and threes to twos and twos to ones and denying the single is not going to be easy in the absence of Yuvraj and Kaif.
Pakistan will be looking for their batsmen to stay as long as they can at the wicket for their bowling will need a fair cushion of runs against the strong Indian batting. Salman Butt has looked good in the one-day he played in a pressure cooker situation at the Eden Gardens and he also has a century against Australia under his belt. He has the confidence of youth, which can be seen in his comments if reported accurately and if he can get the team off to a good start then it will make Inzamam’s life easier. The Pakistani captain and Yousuf Youhana will form the backbone of the batting and on their shoulders rest the responsibility of guiding the others who are on their first tour of India. The first Test invariably sets the tone for a series especially if it is a short three-Test one and both teams will be looking to get the advantage. Although not as hyped up as the series last year, it promises to be well contested and with the usual uncompromising intensity that an Indo-Pak encounter has. Whether at the ground or watching on TV, it’s not going to be easy on the nails of the supporters. But then it never has been and never will be.
