CRICKET AT GWALIOR

SEWAG DOUBTFUL

Opener May Join Injury List Today To Dent India's Chances In Second ODI

       Gwalior: Will Virnder Sehwag play the second ODI? This was the question doing the rounds as India geared uyp for another grim battle in the one-dayers with South African on Wednesday. skipper Mahendra Singh Dhone didn't commit anything on the eve of the match. With Gautam Gambhir, Yuvaraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh out due to a combination of factors, sehwag's injury would further weaken India's chances.

               Though the Delhi opener batted at the nets for about half an hour at the Captain Roop singh stadium of Tuesday, Dhoni played it safe by saying, "We will take the final call in the morning, though he showed no signs of any injury. "Sehwag got a bck niggle while batting in the first ODI in Jaipur on Sunday.


               Sehwag's absence would mean Abhishek Nayar taking up his posotion in the side. A short series has its own pitfalls. It gives very little chance for comebacks. The Indian victory in the opener has added a few dimensions to the secondgame. Any further slip for the Proteas will mean the end of the road for the visitors.

             For South Africa, the booster dose in batting has to come from skipper kallis and Herschelle Gibbs will have to contrubute. The way the South African middle order played in the opening match must be a worry for the visitors. The South African bowling also didn't look too menacing. Their plan to bounce out the Indian batsmen on slow wickets did not work. On a small ground here with no high stands, the breeze across the ground may heop the seamers and they would be better off pitching the ball up here. More so in the night, when the lights are on.


             But then, in the second - half of the game the dew may also play its part. With the ball getting wet and skidding on to the bat, it can upset the rhythm of the bowlers. Inidia's main problem were the medium-pacers. Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar and S Sreesanth had a poort outing in Jaipur. Dhoni talked about it and said he expected a better show from the new ball bowlers.    
   
             The weather can also be an irritant. Some unseasonal showers on Monday night gave the oranisers some anxious moments, and the morning practice of the Indians had to be rescheduled by a few hours.