Hooper banking on pacers for win

West Indies captain Carl Hooper is hoping his pace bowlers can make the most of a well-grassed pitch at the Queen's Park Oval in the second Test against India which starts on Friday.

"The wicket here looks a lot more encouraging for the bowlers," Hooper told reporters on Wednesday.

"Considering that we played three frontline seamers in Georgetown, we're naturally excited by that and hopefully we'll get a favourable result in the end."

Hooper smashed a career-best 233 as West Indies enjoyed the better of the rain-hit first Test in Georgetown, which ended in a draw on Monday after the last four sessions were washed out.

West Indies piled up 501 in their first innings while India replied with 395 for seven in the opening match of a five-Test series.

Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy and debutant Adam Sanford all bowled impressively in patches at the Bourda cricket ground and Hooper is expecting a more consistent display from the trio in the second Test.

"We did well on the batting front in the first Test but, in the bowling, we need more support from both ends and to get more partnerships goings," said Hooper.

"If you bowl well in pairs, you keep the pressure up and get more wickets."

NIGGLING HAMSTRING

Leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, who claimed the prize wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in the series opener, is doubtful for the second Test due a niggling hamstring injury.

"Nagamootoo bowled really well in the first Test and his injury is obviously a worry," Hooper said.

"We are waiting for the doctor's report and we'll know only tomorrow if he will be fit and available."

India will be boosted by the likely return from injury of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who missed the first Test because of a pulled shoulder muscle.

"Harbhajan is doing alright. I'm quite confident he'll be fit to play," India's team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus told Reuters on Wednesday.

The most eagerly awaited match-up in the Trinidad Test will feature the batting rivalry between hometown hero Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as the two best batsmen in the world.

Tendulkar won the first round in Georgetown, hammering 14 boundaries in his 79, but television replays indicated Lara was unfortunate to be given out caught behind for a duck.

"Lara is a world-class player, like Sachin," Hooper said.

NO PRESSURE

"There is no doubt he will do well many times before this series ends. He was a bit unlucky in Georgetown, but there's no pressure on him. He knows what to do in the middle."

Tendulkar will be chasing a special landmark at the Queen's Park Oval, as the 28-year-old is just one century short of equalling the career haul of 29 Test centuries achieved by legendary Australian Don Bradman.

Tendulkar will be playing his 93rd Test while Bradman achieved his record in only 52 matches. Only Sunil Gavaskar, with 34 hundreds in 125 Tests, has reached three figures more times in Test matches.

India could change their batting line-up for the second Test and are considering opening with all-rounder Sanjay Bangar instead of wicketkeeper batsman Deep Dasgupta, who dropped a few crucial catches in Guyana.

"We are looking at that option," said Indian coach John Wright.

"Bangar is a very good player and adds a lot to the team with his bowling. Deep has improved a lot behind the wicket in comparison to his play against Zimbabwe last month but we have to analyse his form properly."

India's other wicketkeeping option is Ajay Ratra, who impressed in the one-day series against Zimbabwe last month.

Squads:

India - Saurav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Deep Dasgupta, Shiv Sundar Das, Vangipurappu Laxman, Dinesh Mongia, Ajay Ratra, Sanjay Bangar, Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Sarandeep Singh, Tinu Yohannan, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra.

West Indies - Carl Hooper (captain), Chris Gayle, Stuart Williams, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Junior Murray, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Marlon Black, Adam Sanford, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Dinanath Ramnarine.

Mail Cricket Editor