Middle Of Attention
Test matches are supposed to be won on the sheer weight of player performances and not on the vagaries of pitches
10-May-2002Test matches are supposed to be won on the sheer weight of player performances and not on the vagaries of pitches.On the eve of the crucial fourth Cable & Wireless Test between West Indies and India, however, the strip at the Antigua Recreation Ground attracted as much attention as say, Brian Lara or Sachin Tendulkar.The surface at the ARG has not been used in a major cricket match since last July until three two-day Division 1 matches were played in recent weekends.And in the build-up to this key match with the series locked at 1-1, the pitch was watered on at least two occasions. About half-hour after the last instance, it was covered for the final time.It might be an unusual tactic, but even so, no one expects the strip to misbehave over the next five days."It should be a pretty hard surface, very good for batting and bowling as well," said Tony Merrick, the former Leeward Islands and West Indies "B" fast bowler who helped supervised the pitch preparations here."If I won the toss, I would bowl first. It (the pitch) is hard and compact. It will do a bit, especially on the first day."With the work we put in here and the amount of rolling and so on, there is going to be good, even bounce and a lot of carry."What’s for sure is the pitch has produced contrasting results as the years have gone by. It was a batting paradise in the 1980s and early 1990s, but in the last five Tests, all of which have produced outright results, there has been only one total of more than 350."I’ve never had any concerns about the Antiguan wicket," West Indies captain Carl Hooper said."We’ve always had good tracks here in Antigua. There have always been good for batting. I expect this one to be no different."The appearance of the pitch this morning might influence West Indies have named a squad of 12 which includes leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine.Even before that 12 was announced, Hooper was hinting at strengthening the batting to cover for a very weak tail that has produced next to nothing. It meant bringing in Ryan Hinds, but those thoughts have been put aside."Even though we won in Barbados, it would be folly of me to ignore the fact that we have not been having any contributions from the lower order," the West Indies captain said."Sooner or later it is going to get to us. Now that we are level 1-1, we’ve got to guard against all these weak areas."What we can do to strengthen it is lengthen the batting, but at the same time, it will probably weaken the bowling. We want to remain aggressive and positive."India, beaten badly by ten wickets at Kensington, have made their predicted change, swapping Harbjahan Singh for the world-class leg-spinner Anil Kumble.India were on top of the world after their 37-run victory in Port-of-Spain, but their recent defeat has again triggered many to question their ability to play away from home."We’ve played well abroad in the last year-and-a half. I am not a believer in the past," said captain Sourav Ganguly."What’s happened has happened. It’s always a new day, a new Test match. You’ve just got to play well those five days to win."Hooper is of the view that the psychological balance might have shifted slightly towards the West Indies after the Barbados Test."We might hold a slight edge. I suppose they can be forgiven in the first innings when the wicket had a bit of moisture and the ball seamed around and so on, but even in the second innings, I don’t think they batted so well," Hooper said."Having said that, one of their key players, Sachin Tendulkar, is probably not batting as well as he could. There is a thought there of maybe having the edge and maybe even wanting to insert them if we do win the toss and have four quicks go at them again."