Spin and other turns in West Indies

By John Cheeran
There never has been a dull moment in Indian cricket since Greg Chappell took over as national team coach.
Recently against England at home, when skipper Rahul Dravid and coach Chappell included five bowlers in search of a Test win, the move was criticised.
The move weakened the Indian batting, the argument was put forward.
And the Indian batting meltdown in the Mumabi Test led to Andrew Flintoff's England levelling the Test series. So in the immediate Test series in West Indies, far from home, it did not comeas a surprise to me that Dravid opted for six batsmen giving VVS Laxman a chance to revive his career.
That has paved the way for the criticism that India has erred in choosing only four bowlers. What adds credence to that criticism is the fact that India nearly won the Tests in Antigua and St. Lucia.
India fell short by one West Indian wicket in Antigua,while at St Lucia after the complete washout of fourth day's play visitors needed three more rival wickets in second innings.
True, India could have done wonders with one more bowler during the West Indiessecond innings in both the Tests.
Critics have pointed out that veteran leg spinner Anil Kumble missed supporte at the other end as off spinner Harbhajan Singh was rested by the team management. It was left to Virender Sehwag to turn the ball and snare some crucial west Indian wickets.
There is no denying the fact that Harbhajan, for that matter, any extra specialist bowler could have added to West Indies' woes.
But, pray, how come the same rag-tag Indian bowling attack managed to prise out rival batsmen in their first innings both at Antigua and St. Lucia?
There was no fifth bowler or Harbhajan Singh to assist Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel and VRV Singh. Only Sehwag.
So what's the big deal wise men such as Sunil Gavaskar making about the missing fifth bowler?The point is, anyone, even Gavaskar can be wise after the event.
If India and Dravid missed one bowler during the Test series it is AjitAgarkar who did such a wonderful job during the one-day series. Team management should have insisted on Agarkar staying instead of VRV Singh.
That would have made thedifference even on the slow, low wickets in Antigua and St. Luica. And now in the wake of Gavaskar's syndicated controversy comes Harbhajan's revelation.
"I actually was only half-fit for the second Test. Still it was agame in which we distinguished ourselves and but for rain would have surely ended up as winners," Harbhajan has said. Harbhajan, also, brushed aside suggestions that he would have run through the West Indies batting on pitches that seem to suit his bowling.
Alright, and as India approaches the third Test the pressure will be on the management to include one more bowler.
If eventually Harbhajan gets the nod, who knows, wicket may be favouring fast bowlers. In that case, what benefits India can reap?Among all these, one thing is certain.
For India to put pressure on West Indies they will have to put huge runs on the board in the first innings. The rest will follow its own course.