India V SA - Third test - Kanpur

India go into the final match of the series in total disarray. Their batting failed miserably in the previous match, their fast bowlers are in terrible form returning from injuries, Kumble is a doubtful starter for this match, and above all the pitch at the Green Park oval seems to be an unpredictable one. All this goes in favour of the tourists who have a settled and confident look about them.

India are still not sure about their bowling attack. Ishant has been passed fit and he is certain to play. However it remains to be seen if he can get back the rhythm he had in Australia and he will be under pressure right away. There is a thought of playing three spinners but if Kumble does not play the combination of Harbhajan,Chawla,& Powar does not look too promising. Powar is not the kind of bowler who can utilise a crumbling track effectively, India will miss Murali Kartik here. It would be better to go in with Sreesanth instead of Powar. It will also be interesting to see if India persist with Pathan. He showed good application with the bat in the last match but his bowling was poor. However he would be a better option compared to Yuvraj as this wicket would not suit Yuvraj's style of batting.

It looks as though the 2-0 scoreline of the 1999 series is set to be repeated again. India have to fight against all odds and play out of their skins to win this one. The toss will play a huge role and if SA win the toss India will have little hope of levelling the series. Victory in this series would mean that South Africa have almost conquered the subcontinent with wins in Pakistan,Bangladesh, and India. For a team known to be poor players of spin, that would indeed be a significant achievement.