Boycott anticipates runs from Ganguly and Lara

Geoffrey Boycott is back to his commentating assignments after knee surgery at Cape Town. But Boycott, one of the biggest supporters of Sourav Ganguly around, will not be supporting India this time.

"This is a series between two amateur teams, and I am sure that you will be seeing how the two teams, in competing with each other, repeat the mistakes they have made earlier," said Boycott. "Basically this series will be won by the team making fewer mistakes. So you can't support anyone."

But isn't there anything on the Carribbean cricket fields that he is looking forward to in the next couple of months? "Yes, I have come here to see two left-handed batsmen - Brian Lara and Sourav Ganguly," said the former England opener.

"Lara was in superb touch in Sri Lanka, and he made a mockery of the best spinner in the world by scoring 688 runs in a three-match series. Although he is coming back after five months, he has the motivation to perform better in front of the best batsman of the world," said Boycott. "He is a player who hates to lose in such personal battles. So the presence of Sachin Tendulkar will be the motivating factor for him. I am really eager to see him maul this Indian bowling attack in his own backyard."

For the Indian skipper, felt Boycott, this was the best opportunity to get back among the runs on foreign soil. "He has the ability to do so, but somehow he was missing the opportunities. Having seen him score a Test hundred after so many days was a good sight," said Boycott about Ganguly's recent century at home against Zimbabwe.

"But I want to see him score the way he did in 1996 in England. He was at his best form then in Tests," he said. "I must say that his decision to come at the number three is the best decision for him and for his team too. India need him at number three to score runs at a good pace and allow the batsmen who follow to play freely. Against this kind of Caribbean attack and on these wickets, where the bounce is almost like Indian wickets, there is absolutely no reason why he should not be successful."

"I think this tour is very important for the batsman in Sourav Ganguly," Boycott continued. "Runs made in this series will boost his confidence, and he will go on to be a better Test batsman once that happens."

In the current West Indian squad, the highest wicket-taker is captain Carl Hooper, whom Boycott has referred to as a "lollypop bowler" time and again. Does he still endorse that view? "When you see such lollypop bowlers at the top of the wicket-takers list, you know exactly where the West indian bowling attack is heading," he said. "I still consider him the same bowler that he was some years ago."

So does he think the series will be entertaining? "I think so, since you can never predict anything about the current lot of Indians - East or West. You can expect individual brilliance from players capable of doing so," said Boycott.

"Personally I feel Harbhajan Singh will make the major difference in the series, especially if he starts bowling the way he did against the Australians. India should always play two spinners, keeping in mind the slow nature of the wickets here," added Boycott.

"I know India seem to forget the basics when touring abroad, but here they have their best chance to win and make their record better. And if they fail, well, you can't expect anything better from this lot of boys again."