India will look to bowl with better discipline after the scare in the opening match to ensure they keep their winning juggernaut rolling against a vastly improved West Indies in the second cricket one-dayer at the Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday.
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India coach Greg Chappell admitted he wanted his pacemen to bowl with better discipline in the second game after their profligacy allowed West Indies to make an impressive 251 for 5 from their allotted 45 overs. It could have been worse had not the bowlers made up for their mistakes later on in the innings.
The Indians could call upon S Sreesanth if really pressed since the youngster's heel injury has responded well to treatment.
Off-spinner Ramesh Powar though has still not recovered well enough to play the second match.
Injury to two key bowlers has been a huge drain on the resources of a team which is now left with only 13 fit players for the gruelling schedule of playing five one-day internationals in 10 days, hopping from one island to another.
The Indians thus have reason to make a swift snatch of victory in the one-day series as it would allow them to rotate their senior players with untested men of the side -- Venugopala Rao and Robin Uthappa -- straining under the leash to make a favourable impression.
The visitors are happy that when the chips are down, somebody or the other is raising his hands and making the difference.
When the Indians began badly on Thursday, it was Harbhajan Singh and Ajit Agarkar who hauled them back. Similarly in batting, Rahul Dravid, who took the opener's slot, gave an absolute masterclass in precision batting.
Lara, on his part, said his side needed to do a few things better in order to square the five-match one-day series.
The batting great was not pleased with the show of his batsmen in the slog overs as well as the fielding and looseness with extras.
The hosts also need a more selfless spirit from the team after opener Chris Gayle admitted he slowed down to make sure he got his hundred in the first match.
The team made a definite blunder by sending out Shivnarine Chanderpaul at the fall of third wicket.
Chanderpaul is not an attacking batsman and Gayle's caution close to his hundred meant the team failed to accelerate at a critical period.
Teams (from): India: Rahul Dravid (capt), Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Venugopala Rao, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel and Robin Uthappa.
West Indies: Brian Lara (capt), Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Runako Morton, Carlton Baugh Jr, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards, Dave Mohammad, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Ian Bradshaw.
Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pak) and Steve Bucknor (WI)
Third umpire: Billy Doctrove (WI)
Match referee: Chris Broad (Eng).
Hours of play (IST): 8 p.m to 11.30 p.m, 12.10 a.m till close of play (Live on Ten Sports)
