Cricket: Indians volunteer to be tested for 'performance-enhancing' drugs

By RICHARD BOOCK in Wellington

News that India's cricketers will undergo dope tests for the first time will come as no great surprise to anyone who has seen them play in New Zealand this summer.

The only bolt shock is that authorities will apparently be screening the players for performance-enhancing drugs, a somewhat perplexing move considering India have so far played as though they have been on sleeping pills.

The tourists have consented to be tested some time this week as a forerunner to the World Cup tournament in South Africa, where a mandatory doping policy will be in place for all teams.

Whatever happens there, India can at least look forward to a more natural boost today, when master batsman Sachin Tendulkar is expected to return for the fifth one-day international at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, to the great relief of his team-mates.

Touted as the world's best batsman, Tendulkar has not played an ODI since the final of the ICC Knockout tournament on September 30, and his presence has been particularly missed by India during the series in New Zealand.



The Indians have been so bad that New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is considering manipulating the remaining games to ensure that his side is put under some pressure before the World Cup starts next month.

He is already seriously considering batting first if he wins the toss today, even though the trend in the series so far has heavily favoured the side bowling first.

"We want to ice the cake over the next three games, post good scores, be tested and put under pressure, maybe even to the point where we lose a game," Fleming said.

"I hate to say it, but it would be worthwhile going through that sort of experience just to get a realistic view of where we are.

"We want to find out as much about ourselves as possible in this series, so that when we go to South Africa, we'll have a much smaller shopping list."

One of the biggest questions likely to be asked today is the run-scoring status of Chris Harris, who is likely to be included as a front-line batsman in what will be a dramatic change of responsibilities.

For so long a miserly bowler who specialised in batting at the end of the innings, Harris has now found his bowling skills surplus to requirements and is being challenged to re-ignite his career with the bat, possibly at No 4.

With Lou Vincent and Craig McMillan on the domestic circuit, New Zealand will head into the match with just three specialist batsmen, followed by either Harris, Scott Styris or Chris Cairns, who was restored to the side yesterday. Fleming said Styris had proved his batting worth in the West Indies and was now considered more of a batsman who could bowl, in much the same way as the team management was now viewing Harris.

"It's an interesting time for Chris Harris because our bowling has so far been successful by being very attacking," Fleming said.

"The best way to restrict a side is by taking wickets, and I think that focus has been adopted by the top teams a bit earlier than the rest.

"Harry's value in the past has been as a foil for an attacking bowler at the other end, and while he might well play that part in South Africa, his batting will be what's most important to us."

The pitch for today's match has already received the series hex, after Wellington chief executive Erv McSweeney and groundsman Trevor Jackson both sang its praises yesterday and predicted a good, dry batting surface with the potential for plenty of runs.

If that sounds familiar it's because a similar line was offered at the Basin Reserve, Hamilton, Auckland and Christchurch.

The reality is that the pitch at Westpac Stadium tends to play on the slow and low side, with a propensity to slow up further as the day wears on and make life difficult for the team batting second.

The main concern for New Zealand yesterday was a finger injury to Jacob Oram, which ruled him out of today's game, and possibly the series.

Oram, one of the New Zealand success stories this summer, dislocated the little finger on his left hand while attempting to catch a ball struck by manager Jeff Crowe, and was soon after replaced by Cairns.

Cairns is likely to play, predominantly as a batsman, which means that New Zealand will probably carry a frontline bowling attack comprising Shane Bond, Daryl Tuffey, Kyle Mills, Andre Adams and Daniel Vettori.

As for India, if Tendulkar plays today, it seems likely that they will drop wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel and reinstate Rahul Dravid behind the stumps, leaving captain Sourav Ganguly the task of opening the batting with Virender Sehwag.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Craig McMillan, Brendon McCullum, Scott Styris, Chris Harris, Kyle Mills, Andre Adams, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Chris Cairns.

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, V. V. S. Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Dinesh Mongia, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Sanjay Bangar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, Parthiv Patel, Rakesh Patel.