If India took a firm grip on the second Test at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia at the close of play on day one with their score on a healthy 361 for 4, they only tightened the noose by the end of day two with the West Indies reeling on 65 for 3, chasing a monumental 588 for 8 put up by the tourists. In retrospect immense credit for the goings on so far must be given to Rahul Dravid, who after he called correctly, elected to bat first on a pitch, which bore a fair amount of grass. Like spring, it looked green and full of promise. As it turned out the pitch at this fledgling Test venue was a picture of deception and Dravid’s decision was as brilliant as the flawless 146 he crafted which anchored his team’s huge first innings total.
The skipper’s innings was sandwiched between two tons of fun - so to speak - one by prolific opener Virender Sehwag, who batted as though he were double parked on the road leading in to the Beausejour ground here in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, and a workmanlike maiden Test century by Mohammed Kaif. It certainly did not take long for all on sundry to realize that the track in the early going deceptively did not hold any terrors and in fact looked downright benign.
Before you could say Virender, Sehwag had driven and slashed his way to a hundred off only 78 balls, and in fact missed scoring a century before lunch as he took the first interval on 99. It would have been the first time for an Indian and quite an accomplishment for the swashbuckling Sehwag, who might yet achieve the feat as he authors a spectacular career. As is his wont, Virender set the tone for India’s innings and with Dravid, effectively laid the foundation for a formidable total. Curiously the one time in his knock that he was challenged in his so-called weak spot - his rib cage - by left arm seamer Pedro Collins, he lofted a top edged catch to the bowler as he attempted to fend off the delivery. However, with his 180 knocked off just 190 balls and the score on 300 for 3, the damage was done.
The absence of any genuine pace in the West Indies attack with the fiery Fidel Edwards on the sidelines nursing his hamstring injury, the key weakness in the team, their bowling, has been exposed in India’s last two successive innings — 521 for 6 at the Antigua Recreation Ground in the second innings of the 1st Test, and 588 for 8 today at the Beausejour; the latter surpassing the former as India’s highest Test score in the West Indies.
With the possible exception of Collins, the Windies attack appeared lackluster and ordinary. The long bowl in India’s second innings at the ARG by Ian Bradshaw appeared to have taken its toll. Corey Collymore seemed not to be in rhythm as evidenced by his no wickets for 92. And Jerome Taylor was no better with 1 for 88. With the West Indies think-tank opting to go into this match with no genuine spinner, when push came to shove, part-time right arm leg-spinner Ramnaresh Sarwan was pressed into service for as many as 18 overs. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Dravid, who chased a woefully short and wide delivery pitched somewhere between the twin peaks of the Piton and the Beausejour, Sarwan was rewarded with one wicket for his efforts.
In my view, Sarwan and the West Indies should take his bowling seriously. He should work diligently at his bowling and hone it. Back when he was about 16 years old, Sars showed real promise as a natural right arm leg-break googly bowler. But as so often happens to young players, he blossomed as a batsman and the rest is history. And so the West Indies selector’s seemingly revolving door policy regarding the inclusion of a genuine spinner in the team has continued with the lefty Dave Mohammed on the sidelines. Though this time it was not surprising since he was well and truly shelled at the ARG by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Skipper Lara’s admonition to the Windies selectors about having patience with spinners has apparently rang hollow.
With Darren Ganga, Sarwan, and the out of touch Brian Lara gone, the West Indies hopes of getting to 388 to avoid the follow-on rests squarely on the broad shoulders of opener Chris Gayle who looks in very good touch, and hopefully the broad bat of a resurgent Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Act One starring Gayle and Chanderpaul went a long way to saving the 1st Test for the Windies at the ARG.
The Prince of Port-of-Spain would be hoping that Act Two featuring Gayle and Chanders would trump Act One and last all of Day 3. Then maybe the West Indies on a pitch that has abruptly changed character, might earn a better than honorable draw much like Trinidad and Tobago’s undermanned Soca Warriors accomplished against Sweden in the FIFA World Cup in Germany last Saturday.
