India look to wrap up tour with victory

DHAKA: India would look to brush aside the minor concern about opener Wasim Jaffer's form and finish off their Bangladesh tour with a flourish by clinching the Test series with a victory in the second and last match beginning here on Saturday.

While the unproductive first Test ended India's all-win record against Bangladesh after having won each of the three matches played before, a victory in the coming encounter would enable Dravid return home with a double triumph the Test conquest adding further lustre to the 2-0 win in the preceding ODI series.

But despite their successes in the trip so far, the Indian team management need to put their thinking cap on, as far as the opening combination is concerned after Jaffer's pair in the Chittagong Test.

There are two factors weighing in Jaffer's favour. Firstly, he is the sole specialist opener in the squad, and secondly he struck a hundred against South Africa at Capetown India's last Test prior to Bangladesh tour.

However, if the tourists choose to keep out the Mumbai right hander from the playing 11, then stylish left hander Yuvraj Singh could make a comeback.

Yuvraj has the experience of having opened for India earlier, while the think tank could also consider last match centurion Sourav Ganguly for the slot. Another option would be for skipper Rahul Dravid himself.

The good news for the visitors is that Anil Kumble, who could not bowl in the Chittagong Test as he was struck down by flu, has recovered and took part in the morning practice session.

Dravid had described Kumble's absence as a big blow, and now the entire team would be looking forward to India's most successful bowler to deliver the goods.

While offie Ramesh Powar, who bowled well in patches in the Bangladesh second innings, could a get another call up, it remains to be seen whether the visitors decide to include Rajesh Pawar as the third spinner by leaving out one of the pacers who did duty in Chittagong.

Both sides would be hoping for a rain-free Test at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur, after the opening five dayer in Chittagong petered out to a dull draw with more than 15 hours of playing time lost to inclement weather.

What Dravid jokingly said at the team's official reception last night, effectively summed up the  mood. "The Bangladesh Cricket Board has organised a good series. Now if they can organise a good weather then we can have a good Test match."

There is cause for cheers on the weather front with the met office here forecasting sunny days over the next few days. But with the Bangladesh weather being fickle, the sports buffs are keeping their fingers crossed.

For Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar, the match provides a golden opportunity to achieve what none of his predecessors could finish the Test series with his reputation intact.

Against India, Bangladesh had lost the one-off Test in 2000  their first after gaining Test status  before going down in both the games of the two-match series in 2004-05.

While a win would be somewhat of a windfall, Bashar would have nothing to complain with even a draw.

Mashrafe Mortaza's all-round performance, and particularly the way he swung his bat to pull out the team from the rut, in the first Test must be the biggest positive for the hosts.

However, the top order, which collapsed in the first innings, needs to get its act together if Bangladesh are to make a match of it.

The teams:
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Kaarthick, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Anil Kumble, Rajesh Pawar, Ramesh Powar, Wasim Jaffer, VRV Singh and Ishan Sharma.

Bangladesh: Habibul Bashar (captain), Mohammad Ashrafful, Emanuel Haque (Jr), Javed Omar, Khaled Masud, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mehrab Hossain (Jr), Mohammad Rafique, Rajen Saleh, Saqibul Hasan, Shahdat Hossain, Shariyar Nafees, Sayed Rasel.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Aus) and Billy DoCtrove (WI).
Third umpire: Nadir Shah (Ban).
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri).