Hosts hope to stop gate-crashers

The Calypsos are playing a different tune these days. And their band leader Carl Hooper is keen to turn his bunch into the chart-busters of ...

The Calypsos are playing a different tune these days. And their band leader Carl Hooper is keen to turn his bunch into the chart-busters of yore. A sample of things that lie in store was provided at the Steel City of Jamshedpur on Wednesday when they squeezed out a thrilling four-wicket victory.

With an opposition like India, whose performance graph has touched unprecedented heights of late, Hooper could be excused for terming this seven-match one-day series as ‘‘a launch pad for the World Cup (2003).’’ It is with this confidence that the West Indies go into the second match scheduled at the Vidarbha

Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium Saturday here on Saturday.

Hooper’s opposite number Saurav Ganguly wasn’t unduly worried about the loss in the first one-dayer which he put down as ‘‘one of those games.’’ But he made it amply clear that winning would be top on the agenda when he troops out on to the field tomorrow. On the newly-laid track which promises to unleash a run-fest, the side that bats better would hold the edge.

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The task is cut out for Ganguly himself, who is keen to get some runs under his belt. ‘‘I have played well right through the year so I need to score.’’ Besides, he is also eager to chance his arm. ‘‘Obviously, I need to bowl keeping the World Cup in mind.’’

The skipper’s predicament is understandable as the young brigade’s blazing displays have turned the heat on the seniors. Such has been the competition for places in the side that Rahul Dravid put aside a back niggle to endure the three-hour training session on Friday afternoon even as standby wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel was being put through the motions by trainer Adrian Le Roux.

However, these are positive signs for the Indians, who are in the preparatory mode what with the World Cup on the horizon. If Ajit Agarkar’s elevation in the order is an experiment, so would be the testing of a few players during the series. In this context, Ganguly made it clear that seasoned campaigner Javagal Srinath was rested.

‘‘It is not that he (Srinath) did not find a place. We had to try JP (Jai Prakash) Yadav at some stage. Besides, we know about Srinath’s ability. He is very much in part of our thinking and he will get a chance as this series progresses.

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But we have some all-rounders whom we want to give an opportunity to see whether they can find a place in the eleven to strengthen the side.’’

While Ganguly indicated that Agarkar would continue to don the No 3 mantle, the decision on the cherubic Patel replacing Dravid has been put on hold.

With an indisposed Virender Sehwag failing to undertake the training session, the naming of the final eleven has been scheduled on the morning of the match.

Injury worries are prominent on the opposite side too. Manager Ricky Skeritt announced a list, which included Hooper’s name. ‘‘He (Hooper) has got a (right) knee problem. It is an on-going concern and been monitored on a daily basis. The decision to play will be entirely his,’’ Skeritt said. Fast bowlers Cameron Cuffy (hamstring) and Pedro Collins (back injury) too would have to pass fitness tests to make the eleven, Skeritt added.