GALLE, AUG 22: Should one view this tournament as a beginning of a new season for India or an extension of the old one ? A season of hope or of continuing despair ? Indian cricket, as always, is at the crossroads. The man who has been the flag-bearer of India's fortunes with the bat is also the one who has been given the responsibility of leading India. The Mohammed Azharuddin era has ended, an era which was marked with a lot of encouraging results at home but with no rewards outside of it. The moot point is, will Sachin Tendulkar's team be able to correct this anomaly and remove this imbalance between a string of stirring victories back home and pathetic capitulation under alien conditions ?In his first stint as captain, Tendulkar was aware of what history expected of him and in a moment of despair on that 1997 tour of the West Indies, had said: ``Unless I win matches abroad, my captaincy would mean nothing.'' This was said after India failed to make 120-odd runs to win the Barbados Test.In 24 hours,Tendulkar had experienced two extreme emotions: One of elation after knowing his team was on the verge of a victory and the other of despondency when that became unattainable. After two years, he is back to lead the side. Replacing the same man whom he had replaced, a sort of musical chairs which the Indian Board played between him and Mohammed Azharuddin. Unlike last time, he seemed reluctant to accept the job this time, though there were all earlier indications that he was willing to lead the side again.On field, Tendulkar has problems. The first, the imbalance in the team packed with medium pacers and the problem of whom to play in the final eleven tomorrow against Australia - Vinod Kambli or Amay Khurasia.Once the selectors overruled coach Anshuman Gaekwad's assessment of Khurasia's attitude in England - he was accused of disinterest - simple logic would suggest that Khurasia should get his chances first. McGrath doubtful: Rain dogged the Indians again. On the eve of their opening match againstthe Australians in the Aiwa triangular One-day series, the Indians were training at Matara, about 40 kilometres from here in the morning when sharp showers sent them indoors. Since their training at Chennai too was not satisfactory, the Indians were hoping to get a better feel of things here but the elements have conspired to keep them indoors most of the times. And because of the weather, the Indians decided not to name the 12 which has become a practice for sometime now. Limited overs game is an uncertain affair, more so if the overs get shortened, a possibility not to be ruled out tomorrow as well.The Indians did receive a positive piece of news from the enemy camp and that was doubts over Glen McGrath's participation in the match tomorrow. Mcgrath, who missed today's game against Sri Lanka due to a thigh strain, will have to prove his fitness in the morning. India were done in by a splendid opening spell by McGrath in the World Cup and won't be too displeased if the tall fast bowler does not take thefield tomorrow.THE TEAMS (FROM)INDIA: Sachin Tendulkar (C), Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Vinod Kambli, Amay Khurasia, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh, MSK Prasad, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad, Nikhil Chopra, Debasish Mohanty, Sadagopan Ramesh and Laxmi Ratan Shukla.AUSTRALIA: Steve Waugh (C), Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Tom Moody, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne, Shane Lee, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds and Adam Dale.
