Cricket: India start to get twitchy

By RICHARD BOOCK

The most impertinent question in Indian cricket right now has not so much to do with the performance of their one-day side as the selection of it.

New Zealand's series-levelling 48-run win the fourth ODI at Guwahati might have had the marketing gurus jumping for joy, but it has caused more than a squirm or two among the home selectors, who have been unashamedly keeping one eye on the much-awaited tour to Australia.

As the teams count down to the fifth and deciding one-dayer at New Delhi tomorrow night, the focus in India has switched away from the players who were actually in the team to the three senior bowlers who were omitted The decision to leave new-ball bowlers Javagal Srinath and Venkat Prasad, and legspinner Anil Kumble out of the squad is a touchy subject after India were well beaten at Guwahati, leaving New Zealand with a chance of scoring their first series win on Indian soil.

At a press conference following the fourth ODI, coach Kapil Dev apparently snapped at reporters who inquired about the chance of bringing back the Rested Three, accusing them of focusing on an irrelevant part of the game.

Kapil Dev reportedly interrupted to rubbish any suggestion of an about-face.

"No, there's no such possibility at all," he said. And in case anyone misunderstood: "There is no question whatsoever of bringing back those who have been rested.

"Why talk of them in any case?" he asked. "They're front-line bowlers and it was the batsmen who let us down in this instance. If it had been the bowlers then let's raise the point. But we lost because of our batting, not our bowling."

However, the feeling within the New Zealand camp is that the Rest Camp strategy smacks of over-confidence, with skipper Stephen Fleming suggesting Indian's frailties could again be exploited tomorrow night.

"I think they've been a little quick to rest a few of their players," Fleming said, "and hopefully that will backfire on them.

"If we can do the same again, get a few early wickets and get runs on the board, I think we'll see them panic."

Fleming believed the win at Guwahati was further evidence of the maturity and self-sufficiency evolving within the New Zealand squad, and said his side were anxious to accept the challenge of creating history on the subcontinent.

"To be stuck in the worst place we've been on tour and to turn around and front up is testament once again that we're developing and maturing as a side.

"We're now looking forward to the next few days because the opportunity for a first series win doesn't come along too often."

Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar, meanwhile, says his side will not lose any sleep over the upset result at Guwahati.

"We're looking forward to the [final] game in a positive manner," he said. "We've won a couple of matches convincingly and we just want to carry on with positive thoughts in our mind."