MUMBAI, India (IANS/CMC) – West Indies appear poised to field an all-pace attack as they seek to stave off a series whitewash when the third and final Test against India starts here today. The Wankhede Stadium pitch is expected to be seamer friendly, a fact that prompted West Indies captain Darren Sammy to hint at leaving out rookie leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo from the final XI.
“So far, the practice wickets have been good. There has been something in it for the fast bowlers and the batsmen seem to be playing their shots. Possibly we may have three fast bowlers and Ravi (Rampaul) might come in,” said Sammy.
In the previous Tests the Windies pacers have had to toil on pitches where India’s spinners Pragyan Ojha and Ravi Ashwin have reaped success, and will welcome the respite.
Curator Sudhir Naik confirmed that the Wankhede would be to the liking of the Windies fast men.
“It is a sporting track. There is some grass on it. On the first three days it will assist the seamers and will help the spinners on the fourth and fifth day. Even the West Indies bowlers would love bowling here,” Naik said.
There is still some doubt over the fitness of veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul who struggled with a calf strain during the last Test.
While concerns have lessened over his availability, Sammy said a decision on if Chanderpaul will take his place at the head of the Windies batting, would be taken on the morning of the game.
“We are monitoring his situation. The experienced player that he is, I guess he will know if he could really make it for us tomorrow but we have to wait until tomorrow (Tuesday) to decide,” Sammy said.
West Indies batsmen have been inconsistent as evidenced by the Eden Gardens Test, but have proved that they are capable of scoring runs on Indian pitches.
They will need a good start but a lot will depend on the quartet of Chanderpaul, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards and Marlon Samuels.
Chanderpaul scored a classy century in the first Test in Delhi while knocks from Bravo, who struck his second Test century in Kolkata, and Samuels who got 84 were crucial behind West Indies fight-back in the Eden Gardens Test.
“We just have to be more consistent, especially with the bat. If we bat well in one innings, we don’t bat well in the second,” Sammy pointed out.
“We have to find a way of pulling it all together, especially when it matters. During this tour we have learnt we have to be consistent as individuals and as a team.
“So, if there is one thing that I have learnt from this tour it is my mental toughness. Throughout the series, we have shown that we can be on par with India but we did not capitalise when we fought to get ahead of them.”
India, entering the match with a 2-0 lead, will be looking for a clean sweep of the three-Test series.
They won the first Test in Delhi by five wickets before pulling off a crushing innings and 15-run victory inside four days in Kolkata.
India wielded the strength of their mighty batting in the last Test by piling up over 600 runs and the Windies bowlers will find it difficult to penetrate the long line-up.
The focus will be on Sachin Tendulkar’s long-awaited 100th international century. The batting maestro has the best opportunity in seven months to achieve the milestone at his home ground, after failing to do so in the last two matches.
For the first time in the series, much will depend on the new pace attack of Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav as spinners are not expected to get purchase from the wicket in the first three days.