Windies may use extra spinner at Kolkata

 KOLKATA, India — West Indies captain Darren Sammy said yesterday he was likely to play an extra spinner in the second Test against India because he expects another slow pitch at Eden Gardens. Sammy said it was possible that off-spinner Shane Shillingford would be brought in for pace bowler Ravi Rampaul in the game starting today, as the West Indies looks to even the three-Test series.

“The centre track looks the same (as the slow practice pitches),” Sammy said. “We will definitely consider the option of the other spinner we have in the squad - Shillingford.” The visiting side played leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo with part-time off-spinner Marlon Samuels for support in the opening test in New Delhi, which it lost by five wickets. Sammy said he had seen India's former part-time seam bowler Sourav Ganguly bowling with the new ball at this venue in the past and so he too could contemplate cutting out a full-time pace bowler.

“It is possible that Shillingford will be brought in instead of Rampaul. I would love to see the ball passing by the batsmen's neck, but in India, we know what we expect to get,” he added. Sammy ruled out the possibility of playing an extra bowler in a bid to counter the strong Indian batting lineup that includes Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman. “To be honest, lots of people have said that we should do that, but bowling has not been an issue for us. The last six to eight months we have been bowling with this combination and it has worked well for us,” he added.

Sammy said the key to the game lay in dominating the Indian slow bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha had taken 16 of the 20 West Indian wickets in New Delhi. “During the series in the West Indies as well, we pointed out that we can't let spinners dictate to us. So often, a guy comes and settles into his bowling. We will look to counterattack, but also be more selective because it is test cricket and we still need to bat out time,” Sammy said.

India defeated the West Indies 1-0 in the three-test series in the Caribbean earlier this year. “It is important that we play well in all aspects and seize the key moments,” Sammy added. India pace bowler Ishant Sharma, the most senior member of an inexperienced bowling attack, also said pace bowlers were not likely to do much in this series. “In the first innings, it's too early to get reverse swing as the wicket is not that scratched up,” Sharma said. “The only thing you can do is to bowl consistent because it will only reverse on the second and third days of a match.”

Sharma, who has played 39 test matches, said it was an honor to lead the bowling attack in the absence of the injured Zaheer Khan. “Obviously it's a great feeling. Zaheer is the kind of bowler you will obviously miss. But that is part and parcel of the game - when someone is injured and you have to play that role of the senior. “Whatever you have in the team, you need to go with that and give your best shot and go and win the match for the team.”

The final test will be held in Mumbai starting on Nov. 22 and will be followed by a five-game one-day series.