Hot conditions crucial for India and SA clash

Nagpur, March 11: The state of the wicket and the composition of the two teams are a matter of hot topic even as India and South Africa lock horns in the crucial Group 'B' encounter on Saturday at the Vidharba Cricket Association Stadium.

The wickets here are high-scoring ones and it will be no different for this match, according to curator Praveen Hinganikar. Although Nagpur already hosted three World Cup matches, the centre wicket has yet to be used. The grounds men have rolled the centre wicket very well and the ball is expected to come nicely on to the bat. However, with hot sun coming out strongly, the wicket is expected to break how much you water on this red-soil wicket.

The moisture element may not be there in this time of the year. Under the circumstances there is a hint of reverse swing going while spinners could find some encouragement from the square in Saturday's match.

Dale Steyn, the world's fastest bowler, has rightly said bowling in India needs a different planning on the flat wickets. It is not about bowling at the same pace or at the same place. The bowlers have to change their plan and change their line according to the situation. The bowler has to read the wicket.

The Chennai wicket was one of the examples where the bowlers reverse swung the ball while the spinners got help. The South African batsmen were undermined by the reverse swing of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad in their bid to chase a small total of 172. In England's innings, spinners like Robin Peterson and the injured Imran Tahir caused havoc.

Zaheer Khan has the ability to probe the batsmen with his reverse swing. The South African batsmen will be cautious. Munaf Patel, who was not played in the last match, should make a comeback into the team as he also can be a handy bowler in the given situations.

But India will be in a selection dilemma whether to go with three seamers and one spinner or with three seamers and two spinners. The second option means a batsman has to go out.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni would not risk by playing a fifth bowler (Ashish Nehra). Despite the flak Dhoni has been receiving on playing the leg-spinner Chawla, Dhoni has kept his faith in him. It is a big gamble given the show by Chawla so far.

Meanwhile, the summer has arrived. Nagpur is reeling under 37-38 degree Celsius. The heat factor will come into picture, at least in the first session. It is going to be a hot affair, both the contest and the weather.