Ganguly, Hooper hopeful ahead of Barbados Test

That India have lost six out of seven Tests at the Kensington Oval is not as significant as the fact that the West Indies have lost only three matches at the ground. Naturally, then, when the hosts take on any opponents here, they are more than a little confident of winning.

Remember 1997? Sachin Tendulkar's India could not make 120 in the fourth innings here to win the Test; they subsequently lost the series because of that one disaster. This time around, though, the West Indies are down one Test, and Barbados will provide them an opportunity to only level the series, not win it.

One man thinks otherwise. Sourav Ganguly, the Indian skipper, said, "Yes, I know that we haven't won any Test here, and that we could not successfully chase 120 here last time. But history does not guarantee you any result, so one cannot predict with confidence that India will never win here. We do not play in history. I must admit that it will be tough, but then every match in the international arena, especially abroad, is tough. The wicket seems to be lively, and we have to play well to keep ourselves ahead in the series. That is the basic thing."

Ganguly's first target is to ensure that India don't lose. "If we can draw this Test, the probability of winning the Test series will still be good. You know, everybody was equally eager to win at the Queen's Park Oval. We need to be so in the field here for five more days," says Ganguly.

"Do you remember how (Javagal) Srinath continued bowling after the lunch interval till the tea-break unchanged? Not once did he say that he was feeling tired, although I know very well how it affects a fast bowler to bowl consecutive 12 overs. It is this spirit that makes a team look better on the field. I must say that is the commitment we need to show on the field."

On the composition of the team, however, Ganguly is not so sure. At the moment, Wasim Jaffer and Harbhajan Singh are ahead in the running for the slots of the second opener and spinner. But Ganguly is somewhat worried at the failure of Harbhajan Singh in wiping out the tail.

"Anil Kumble is a bit more useful in this aspect, I think. Bhajji tried his best, but he was not at his usual best at Trinidad. So we all are thinking about it. However, one thing is sure. We'll play with three seamers and a spinner. With the inclusion of Ridley Jacobs, they have one more left-hander in their batting line-up. So the two left-arm fast bowlers will play," said Ganguly.

Carl Hooper, meanwhile, is not too worried about the defeat at Trinidad. "It is not that we lost the match comprehensively. We fought till the last moment. It could have been anybody's game till the second session of the fifth day. So here too it will be an exciting Test," he said.

Hooper is planning to play four seamers once again. "But I have to speak with the selectors first." This time, though, he is keen to have Pedro Collins, the left-arm fast bowler, in the attack along with Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy and Adam Sanford.

The Indians, moreover, have a poor history against left-arm fast bowlers, be it Wasim Akram, Bruce Reid or Mike Whitney. The West Indians, thus, seem to have done their homework well ahead of taking on India on their luckiest ground.