Jaffer, Dasgupta competing for opener's slot

India have narrowed the search for Shiv Sundar Das's opening partner for the third Test against West Indies in Barbados which starts on Thursday to two candidates -- Wasim Jaffer and Deep Dasgupta.

Jaffer and wicketkeeper-batsman Dasgupta both hit half-centuries on Sunday in the drawn match against a Busta XI side to edge out all-rounder Sanjay Bangar, who opened in India's 37-run victory in the second Test at Port of Spain last week.

"Wasim and Deep both played well in the second innings to get 50s," Ganguly said. "Any one of them could open the innings at Barbados."

Dasgupta struck an unbeaten 54 while Jaffer, who received a first-ball duck in the first innings, scored 62 to save India's blushes after their depleted batting line-up was forced to follow-on.

India, who had gone into the match with the primary objective of sorting out their opening worries, have been struggling to find the right combination at the top of the batting order.

Dasgupta opened in the first drawn Test at Georgetown but was sidelined for the Trinidad game due to a lack-lustre performance behind the stumps.

"The chances of his playing only as a specialist batsman are remote at the moment," Ganguly said.

GOOD JOB

"Wasim did a good job also, we'll have to keep both of them in mind when we decide the final 11."

Left-hander Dinesh Mongia was the saviour in the first innings, scoring 67 to take the total to 150 after India had slumped to 72 for seven.

"Dinesh batted well, he applied himself," Ganguly said. "But it would still be difficult for him to find a place in the middle-order."

Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Ganguly and Rahul Dravid have all been among the runs so far in the series.

The pace trio of Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan bowled India to victory on the last day at Trinidad, but the spin department is still a worry for the Indian captain.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, left out for the second Test in favour of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, was hammered to all corners of the newly-built National Stadium for his two wickets in the Busta XI match.

Harbhajan, though more impressive in comparison, was also expensive for his two wickets.

"The speedsters have been doing well. We'll have to decide on the bowling combination once we look at the wicket," Ganguly said.

West Indies have replaced paceman Marlon Black, who played in Trinidad, with left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins, who returns to the squad for the Barbados Test.

"West Indies are obviously worried," Ganguly said. "They have dropped a bowler after just one game."

Wicketkeeper Junior Murray, who failed with the bat in the first two Tests, has been replaced by Ridley Jacobs, a veteran of 37 Tests who was dropped after failing with the bat against Pakistan in Sharjah earlier this year.

Mail Cricket Editor