Australia hold aces but the hosts could still trump

The odds overwhelmingly favour Australia; they have form and the statistics on their side. But there’s something special about Eden Gar...

The odds overwhelmingly favour Australia; they have form and the statistics on their side. But there’s something special about Eden Gardens — perhaps the 100,000 crowd — that could give the Indians just that extra boost they need tomorrow.

By winning here tomorrow, India could wipe away part of the bitterness of that March evening at The Wanderers — and nothing will give Saurav Ganguly greater pleasure than to do it on home turf. ‘‘We are the second best team in the world and in a one-day contest anything can happen,’’ he said.

He forgot to add, though, that the gap between first and second extends all the way from this arena to the MCG and back. It’s something Ricky Ponting touched on in his own manner. ‘‘Of course we’re aware that we will be playing in a hostile environment and not many will be rooting for Australia, but we know how to keep the crowd quiet.’’

His confidence was almost a visible presence today. ‘‘Whatever we do first (bowl or bat) we will do it well. If we lose the game, I won’t blame the toss,’’ he said.

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The toss might not matter for the visitors but it probably will to Ganguly. Though batting first will be at the top of the captains’ mind, the significant dew factor in the later part of the game will make it tough for the spinners to grip the ball and that could tilt the balance.

Indeed, this factor could decide the composition of the two teams. Ganguly hinted at playing three seamers but didn’t mention the spinners. The Aussies too might have the same strength pace department with three from Bracken, Williams, Bichel and Kasprowicz.

And, with the ball certain to keep low and slow in the final overs, it’s likely that the middle overs from the slow bowlers will decide the outcome of the match.

Erapalli Prasanna, who was at the stadium today, held out hope for India. ‘‘It all depends on how Harbhajan Singh performs. He will decide the outcome of the match.’’

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Remember Eden, remember Steve Waugh’s Aussies and remember Harbhajan. It would certainly need something out of this world to beat the Aussies on an occasion like this.