Bowlers struggle on batting pitch

India replied strongly to the huge West Indian total on a pitch that is a batting paradise and still has plenty of runs left in it.

It has been a struggle for the bowlers and apart from the odd ball which has turned, and the odd one which has squatted along the ground there have been no alarms at all for the batsmen.

They can just plant their front foot down the pitch and play through the line without worrying about any deviation off the pitch, for the seamers as well as the spinners.

What the mammoth West Indian score has done is taken away to a great extent the chances of India making a clean sweep, but there are still two days to go and with the runs coming easily we could still be in for an exciting finish.

India will be looking to firstly get to 391, so the danger of the follow on is avoided and with the batting line up that they have they should be able to do it without too much trouble.

They began well with Sehwag and Gambhir, giving the team the usual brisk start. Sehwag, missed out once again and his disdain for Sammy's bowling is costing him his wicket and Sammy is having the last laugh.

Sehwag perished trying to flick the ball to midwicket off the front foot, a shot that he doesn't play as well as the shots on the off side.

The same can be said of Gambhir, who for some strange reason looks short of stamina and so is getting out when he has done all the right things in seeing the new ball off and looking secure.

Dravid, has been in prime form all through the year and his lean frame belies the big appetite for runs that he has. He also will be upset with himself for making the same mistake that cost him his wicket in the Eden Gardens Test and while he had a hundred under his belt there he missed out on another one at the Wankhede.

Tendulkar, in the previous Tests has also looked well set and in good touch, but his first error has cost him his wicket. He has got a start and is looking good to get to the landmark that the Indian cricketing fraternity is waiting for and it would indeed be fitting if he does that in front of his home crowd.

However, there is the second new ball that is available for the West Indies and if he rides that out it will be a memorable day for India.

— Professional Management Group