Jaffer likely to open in Barbados Test

Leg-break bowler Anil Kumble, who was left out of the second Test at Trinidad for off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, could miss out again in the third West Indies test starting here on Thursday.

Kumble is India's most successful bowler with 318 wickets in 69 Tests.

"We have to go with three paceman when we're playing abroad," said Indian captain Saurav Ganguly.

"On these wickets the spinners just get no assistance early on. That again leaves us with a choice between Harbhajan and Kumble, which is not easy."

Ganguly had gone with Harbhajan just 10 minutes before the start of the second Test and later described the move as the most difficult decision he has had to make as captain.

"Harbhajan bowled well to Brian Lara in the first innings, but Kumble has been a great performer and can run through any tail," Ganguly said.

"We'll have to think hard about that call again."

Pacemen Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan bowled India to victory in the second test, which was their first test win in the Caribbean in over 26 years.

Kumble failed to impress in the side match against Busta XI as he was hammered to all corners of the park by test hopefuls Wavell Hinds and Devon Smith.

Harbhajan, though better in comparison, also proved expensive for his two wickets.

JAFFER LIKELY

The 21-year-old was nicknamed "Turbanator" when he shot into the limelight grabbing 32 Australian wickets to lead India to a stunning 2-1 home series win last year.

But what could clinch the spot in Harbhajan's favour is that he will move the ball away from the four left-handers in the West Indian frontline -- Lara, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs.

Mumbai's Wasim Jaffer is likely to open the Indian batting with Shiv Sundar Das.

Jaffer, who scored 62 on Sunday in a three-day tour game against a Busta XI side at St Lucia, will be Das's third new opening partner in as many matches.

"Jaffer should open the innings," Ganguly said.

"He did well in the side match, batted with a lot of responsibility, and we would like to give him a chance."

Jaffer helped India save the match after the visitors failed to avoid an embarrassing follow-on, sharing in a 101-stand with Deep Dasgupta, who scored 54 not out.

India have been struggling to find an opening combination from the start of the tour.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dasgupta had opened in the first drawn Test at Georgetown, but lost out because of his lacklustre form behind the stumps.

BANGAR DOUBTFUL

Dasgupta had been replaced by keeper Ajay Ratra at Trinidad.

"Ratra kept well in Trinidad. He should play at Barbados as well," Ganguly said.

All-rounder Sanjay Bangar had taken the opening role at Trinidad but scored nine and 16 in the match. He bowled only two overs in the test.

"Bangar is a good player, but we may have to leave him out in order to strike the right 11."

The Trinidad win was India's first Test triumph in the Caribbean in over 26 years.

The West Indies have made two changes in their test squad, bringing in left-arm paceman Pedro Collins for Marlon Black and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs for Junior Murray.

"Jacobs is a good player. He will add to their team," Ganguly said.

Leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine is also likely to be included in the final 11 after his four-wicket burst against India in the tour match.

Squads:

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

West Indies - Carl Hooper (captain), Stuart Williams, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Dinanath Ramnarine, Adam Sanford, Mervyn Dillon, Pedro Collins, Cameron Cuffy.

Mail Cricket Editor