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NEWS India-South Africa Series 2006>Selection could be the key in the series decider 01st Jan 2007 21.04 IST By Agencies South Africa and India are not only pegged equal at stakes for the series but they are also in the same boat when it comes to selecting the eleven for the series-deciding Test beginning in Cape Town on Tuesday. The two teams, locked 1-1 in the series, could be racking their heads for the right choice till the final minute as the spin-friendly reputation of the venue and South Africa's overt desire for a pacy and bouncy wicket pose an interesting dilemma in the series.
One of the two openers is set to make way for Gautam Gambhir but Virender Sehwag could hold on to his place as wise heads measure the ramifications of the long-term effect of the move. Wasim Jaffer has only marginally been less disappointing than Sehwag on this tour and they still have to produce 20 runs for the first wicket from the two Tests but in Sehwag, the team has to weigh the void of losing out on the best batting talent India has unearthed in the last decade. Sehwag might be a sitting duck at the crease these days but pushing him into oblivion could be a terrible loss in the year of the World Cup, not to speak of the irreparable loss of missing out on a talent who at this stage should be at the height of his powers. There is also this issue of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's bruised and battered fingers and the obvious discomfort he showed in keeping during South Africa's second innings at Durban. India would be loath to risk a major talent in a major game, more so when the fine-tuning for the World Cup has soon to begin in right earnest. Dinesh Kaarthick, fortunately, does not seem a terrible option given the verve and spirit with which he has availed the few chances that came his way. South Africa too would take a final count on Jacques Kallis' fitness. The team's premier batsman is getting better with the hour on his back problem but there is also so much that hinges on his ability to bowl his outswingers. It is so vital to South Africa's plans since the fast bowling resources appear set to be depleted with the inclusion of left-arm spinner Paul Harris. The hosts most probably would lay off Hashim Amla from the team and Hall too could step aside for Harris. The 28-year-old Zimbabwe born slow bowler has been fast tracked into national team and almost certainly will be called up for duty on a pitch, which supports slow bowlers. He is a departure from typical South African spinners who are supposed to pull in their weight with bat and in the field as well. He is tall and lean and is known to be miserly with runs. That's not all, which the hosts have to consider for the final game. Morne Morkel was impressive in the second Test but if Dale Steyn has regained his fitness, his pace would almost certainly be called upon for the game. It is difficult though to be sure of his fitness given the way he broke down during the first Test at the Wanderers. History points to South Africa's dominance over India at this venue. They have played two Tests against India at Newlands; playing a draw in the 1992-93 season and then winning by 282 runs in 1996-97. On both occasions, South Africa batted first which has traditionally been seen as the best option on winning the toss at Newlands. They have the right man in Graeme Smith for the man since the home captain has won four out of five tosses at this venue. Since their readmission in international cricket in early 90s, South Africa have won 10 of the 16 Tests here, drawing three and losing three and incidentally, all of them to Australia. Despite the last few days being cold and cloudy in Cape Town, the weather forecast for all the five days during the Test is one of bright sunshine. Teams (from): India: Rahul Dravid (Capt.), Virender Shewag , Wasim Jaffer , Gautam Gambhir , Sachin Tendulkar , VVS Laxman , Sourav Ganguly , Mahendra Dhoni , Dinesh Kaarthick , Anil Kumble , Harbhajan Singh , Munaf Patel , S Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan . South Africa: Graeme Smith (Capt.), AB de Villiers, Jacques Henry Kallis , Herschelle Gibbs , Ashwell Prince, Mark Verdon Boucher , Shaun Maclean Pollock , Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini and Paul Harris. Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and Darryl Harper (Aus) Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka). Also View In-Depth Coverage: India-South Africa Series 2006 Team Page: India Team Page: South Africa | LIVE CRICKET COVERAGE NEWS ~ Gilchrist has no plans to retire after World Cup ~ Ganguly's new batting approach may cost him sixer record ~ India 'squash the Orange' in World Cup warm-up game ~ Symonds gets a new hairdo for World Cup ~ Dhoni readies himself for stand-up act at World Cup (more in NEWS) FACE-TO-FACE ~ 500-mark a possibility in World Cup: Hayden ~ Minnows add charm to World Cup: Dravid (more in FACE-TO-FACE) COLUMNS ~ Will Sri Lanka replicate 1996 World Cup success? (more in COLUMNS) OFF-THE-FIELD ~ Ganguly again the darling of corporate world ~ Ganguly roped in as brand ambassador of Puma (more in OFF-THE-FIELD) PLAYERS Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble (more PLAYERS) TEAMS India, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, West Indies, Zimbabwe, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya, Holland | 
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