Sachin might revert back to original slot

And, if these two missiles are not potent enough, India has to contend with this man who bowls leg-spin, but enjoys the status of a fast bowler who rattles wickets and intimidates batsmen. He may be booed and jeered while playing for his state side Melbourne in faraway Brisbane, but once he dons the Aussie baggy green, Shane Warne can do no wrong.

In situations like these, a team develops a siege mentality and may well feel `survival’ is not easy. And if you have the general of the team supervising operations with one leg in a crutch, the picture of a team low on spirits is complete.

Kapil Dev arrived at the ground, with a crutch to support his knee, which was operated on yesterday. “I will be running tomorrow with the team,” he smiled and got the net-session going.

His comments to the Australian press a couple of days ago that “we are happy with bouncy wickets” was splashed all over the sports pages here. Today, he betrayed no panic and whenever an uncomfortable question was directed to him, the answer was:“Wait and watch, the series is not over yet.”

Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar who, ever since Kapil took over as coach, keeps away from the press, was cornered by a few Indian reporters. Tendulkar said nothing new, but what emerged from the talk was he has not given up hope. “I am not thinking negatively. We are concentrating on our positives from the tour,” was his first comment.

The positives are many. Tendulkar feels in the Adelaide Test, “We had done quite well till that second innings collapse. We had bowled well, fielded well and given Australians a run for their money.”

The Indians are not worried over what is being written about them and nor are they bothered about the talk of the MCG wicket being a flier. He, like Kapil, does not think his team will find the pace and bounce of the wicket too discomfiting.

“It takes time to adjust to different surfaces, especially when one has played back home on slow wickets. We have been here for a month now and are getting used these conditions.” He also is planning to bat higher in the order, something which is bound to happen if V V S Laxman is elevated to opener’s slot.

Minutes before Tendulkar was saying all this, the much-sought after curator of the wicket, Tony Wike, had returned from another conducted tour of the wicket. It had a slightly greenish tinge as compared to yesterday, but Wike said nothing different.

Except that it will not crack and Warne may not find it easy to take the six wickets which he needs to become Australia’s highest wicket-taker, surpassing Dennis Lille’s 355 victims.

Agarkar injured?

AJIT Agarkar, who performed well in the first Test, is reported to be suffering from a back-problem.

Agarkar has already broken down twice in his brief career, and was selected for the Australian tour after the well-publicised showdwon between coach Kapil Dev and Board secretary Jaywant Lele. The news of Agarkar’s fitness could be a real worry for the team as it could not only affect the team’s chances here but also has the potential of further trouble between Kapil and Lele.

Kapil today did not confirm whether Agarkar has a back problem, saying: “He has developed some rashes on the skin and as far as I am concerned, he is fit.”