Cricket-lovers in Kolkata are in for a great time. For the third consecutive time this season, there has been a lot of discussion on the pitches prepared at home than on the action on the field. The first Test at Kanpur petered out into a stale draw despite some good batting performances on what was a mediocre pitch. Despite Andrew Hall's stupendous 163 being matched by Virender Sehwag's scintillating 164, most of the action for the latter three days bordered on the mundane. It was disappointing for Gautam Gambhir to narrowly miss out on what would have been a sublime maiden Test century. But it was even more disappointing to watch the slow pace of the cricket, which was absorbing only in patches. South Africa chose the safer route with a raw team in formation under a new coach, but it was rather strange to watch the home team not really pushing to put pressure on the young inexperienced visitors.

But Kolkata promises to be different. Considering that the pitch at Eden Gardens has always been favourable to pace and bounce, the Indians will have to re-strategise to accommodate another pace bowler and in all probability, Irfan Pathan. India seem to be falling into the trap of a rigid pattern and not showing the flexibility required that is the hallmark of teams of higher order. The 'seven batsmen' theory has been done to death. Now this extra reliance on a three-pronged spin attack is being overcooked. Not every pitch will turn like the one at Wankhede! Irfan Pathan was surprisingly sidelined for the first Test in lieu of just one fast bowler in Zaheer Khan.

Given Harbhajan Singh's long stint in international cricket, Murali Karthik may find himself unlucky and warming the benches yet again. Anil Kumble though has little to worry about as he steamrolled his way close towards Kapil Dev's Test record of 434 wickets.

Ganguly's three hour long teleconference with the ICC appeals commissioner Tim Castle on Friday proved fruitful as the two-Test ban on him was lifted. One wonders how the 1000,000-strong, partisan crowd at the Eden would have reacted to their favourite son sitting out the game! The business end of ICC is turning into a bit of a circus. The rage about the amendment to the chucking rule has barely simmered down. While there were plenty of factors for the slow overrate during the BCCI Jubilee commemoration match between India and Pakistan, India were still guilty of not picking up the pace during their fielding stint. Perhaps a two-Test ban was a little too harsh on the skipper as per the new rules and regulations. But with the issue dragging as long as it did, the confusion that evolved with Ganguly's availability for the first Test has been finally resolved just two days before the second Test. The complete overturn of Clive Lloyd's observation makes mockery of the position that the match referee holds. Throw in the facts that the timing of the appeal was so close to the Kolkata Test where the skipper is highly revered, and that the revenue generated through cricket in this part of the world has surpassed that earned everywhere else. One does get the feeling that the ICC is by and large a mere figurehead with no real authority backing the world body.
 

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have, for the moment, silenced the issue of opening alliances matching each other stroke for stroke. Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly notched up useful half-centuries at Knapur, but the impetus to push on and make things happen seemed amiss with defensive stroke making. While it was important to avoid the follow-on, the opening partnership scored runs at a fair clip and India could have rode on the momentum to turn the heat on the tourists. Sachin Tendulkar seems to be trying too hard while V.V.S.Laxman is doing the bare minimum to retain his place in the side. A batsman of such sublime character needs be more consistent to lead India into match winning positions. It is definitely a huge underachievement as far as the enigmatic, wristy stroke-maker is concerned. What must worry the team must surely be the fact that after making the tourists dispirited at 404 for the loss of just four wickets, India lost the last six wickets for just sixty runs. Instead of paving the road towards a substantial lead, they collapsed to concede a lead but more importantly, conceded vital psychological advantage.

The South Africans prepare themselves for the Kolkata showdown.

South Africa's batting prowess passed the preliminary test at Kanpur riding on the back of the burly Andrew Hall. They attracted criticism aplenty for the slow pace of their run-making. But considering that the coach, Ray Jennings, is new, and the squad is largely inexperienced, it was important for them to make a solid start towards building a more fortified team. And they had partnerships every step of the way that annoyed the hosts. Zander de Bruyn's fine debut, wherein he played a composed knock of eighty-three and then took the vital wicket of Sourav Ganguly, would have elevated the spirits of the tourists. When they last played a Test at the Eden in 1996-97, Lance Klusener had set the stadium alight with a stupendous Test debut, bagging eight wickets in the second innings, after taking a hammering from Mohammad Azharuddin in the first innings, while Allan Donald had limped away midway through the match. This time though, there is no Klusener.

Spinner Robin Peterson may just make way for swing bowler Alfonso Thomas, a gamble that could be more intuitive than logical. A lot will depend on the fitness of Jacques Kallis. South Africa missed his bowling proficiency due to side injury in the first Test.

India desperately need to restore some pride and confidence at home after being overwhelmed by the Australians. They should definitely not settle for a draw. Jennings and his boys will be happy to leave India with a draw, but in all honesty, they would be really wanting to walk away with glee and glory. It is hard to imagine that with the bowling ammunition not firing on all cylinders, South Africa would be able to repeat their 1999-00 heroics, when they conquered the Indians in their own den. It all boils down to the mindset. India must believe that they can exploit the chinks in the South African bowling attack, while the visitors must build on their elevated confidence from the first Test and dig deeper to bring to the fore a more sustained effort with the cherry in hand. Regardless of the result, ardent fans would love to watch an enticing tussle that will end the series on a high note.