Ganguly will rely on spin to outwit SA

The second TVS Cup match is what everyone has been waiting for. Greame Smith will lead South Africa for the first time and his side will be pitted against the World Cup runners-up.

The second TVS Cup match on Sunday is what everyone here has been waiting for. Greame Smith will lead South Africa for the first time and his side will be pitted against the World Cup runners-up. India, under Sourav Ganguly, have come here without five of their front-liners, and yet pack enough power to deliver the killer punch.

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A troubled back will not stop Ganguly from going for the big ones, as he showed against Bangladesh, and Virender Sehwag will look to make amends for a missed century on Friday.

For 22-year-old Smith, his first One-day International might well turn out to be a heart-stopper. South Africa will have a point to prove after their dismal show in the World Cup and, as Ganguly said, they will be hungry. "As hungry as we are," is how Ganguly put it.

That is enough indication that the day-night affair might well go down to the wire. After all, there isn't much to differentiate between the two teams. This would have been Smith's second tour as captain, had South Africa not pulled out of the Sharjah tournament. However, he will be keen to make this match a memorable one.

"We would like to win this one," Smith said before the team's practice in the evening. South Africa had their nets under the lights. "Our preparation has been going on well, we are ready."

Smith added that India are as formidable as ever, even though they are missing a few players. "Yuvraj Singh is in good form. Moreover, India are the 'in' team."

The South African strategy will be simple: Stick to the basics and play to their strength. "We do not have any particular plan for any Indian," Smith said. "As far as we are concerned, everyone is dangerous."

The South African squad looks as depleted as the Indian team. There is no Gary Kirsten, no Jacques Kallis and no Lance Klusener. Even Jonty Rhodes and his exuberant presence will be missed. However, if the list of the missing is compared, Smith should be happier than Ganguly. Sachin Tendulkar's name is missing in the Indian line-up and that puts the two sides at par.

The Indians decided to skip practice on Saturday. They trained in the hotel gym on an otherwise idle day. Having played a day-night game on Friday, the think-tank felt the players could do without the exertion. In the team hotel, Ganguly indicated that two spinners are likely to take the field as "South Africans are vulnerable to spin".

Even though Gautam Gambhir failed against Bangladesh, the skipper said he deserves another chance. There was a word of caution for Avishkar Salvi too. "He did well against Bangladesh, but South Africa will be different." There is also an outside chance of Sanjay Bangar getting his first game since the New Zealand tour.

Ganguly added that all the newcomers would get their chance, if not on Sunday, then later in the tournament. "Both (Gambhir and Salvi) are very talented players and although Gambhir was jittery on Friday, I am sure he will come good," coach Ashok Malhotra said.

South Africa will go into the game with a new-look bowling attack. Andrew Hall and Allan Dawson join Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini in the squad. Dawson is perhaps as old as Allan Donald, and Hall has been in and out of the squad. "We have good swing bowlers," Smith said. Paul 'Frog-in-a-blender' Adams is back. And then, there is Robin Peterson, the slow left-arm bowler.

Teams (from):

India: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Mohammed Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Avishkar Salvi, Sanjay Bangar, Sarandeep Singh, Amit Mishra, Abhijit Kale.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Jaque Rudolph, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Paul Adams, Robin Peterson, Charles Willoughby, Allan Dawson.

Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Akhter Uddin (Bangladesh).

Third umpire: Mahbub Rahman (Bangladesh).