There was some good news, even if it came with a qualification, for India on the eve of Friday's opening Standard Bank One-Day international against South Africa at the Wanderers when touring captain Sourav Ganguly announced that both he and master batsman Sachin Tendulkar would take their places in India's starting line-up.

Ganguly has been nursing a swollen right index finger this week, the legacy of a blow on the glove from Nantie Hayward during Monday's match against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI. Tendulkar, meanwhile, has a tender right big toe and there was some speculation during the week that either one or the other or both might not be fit for Friday.

Ganguly quashed these suggestions on Thursday, saying that, irrespective of discomfort, he would be playing, as would Tendulkar. That, as far as the Indians are concerned is the good news. The bad news comes in the shape of a verbal wound possibly inflicted by Ganguly on himself.

Talking about the South Africans in a CricInfo article, Ganguly expressed his admiration for Allan Donald, who is not playing on Friday and will try to establish his match-fitness in a first-class game this weekend, but was less than complimentary about Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis.

These opinions were noted in the United Cricket Board offices on Thursday, printed out and forwarded to the South African team. It would not be entirely beyond the bounds of possibility that both Pollock and Kallis would like to remind Ganguly of his views.

The problem for Ganguly, of course, is that a painful finger, no matter how well padded, offers a tempting target.

Pollock, it is true, has started the season lacking his usual vigour. The accuracy that has lifted him to among the top three highest ranked bowlers in the world is still there, but in Zimbabwe he seemed to lack the zip. This might have been a consequence of the pitches in Zimbabwe or it could be simply that he has not yet fully bowled himself into the new summer.

Kallis, on the other hand, has been South Africa's consistently quickest and often most penetrative bowler for nigh on a year now. Both he and Pollock are adept at finding that in-between length that kicks up at the splice and the gloves. They will be even more anxious now to locate that length on Friday.

This little war of words should do no harm whatsoever to a series that already promises much. India, as inconsistent as ever, can be expected to lose a couple that they should have won and win some they have no right to.

On Wednesday in Benoni, for instance, India won largely because Ajit Agarkar hit high and handsomely to win the game from a losing position. The full South African side will not relinquish their grip on any game quite so easily and if India hope to compete in either the one-dayers or the Tests, they cannot afford to allow their concentration to wander, however briefly.

India's bowling, with Anil Kumble honourably excepted, will not have struck fear into South African hearts on the evidence of their first two outings and whatever Ganguly thinks about the South African side – not as good as Australia, apparently – the home team will be overwhelming favourites, at least as far as the Wanderers crowd is concerned.

It could be and should be a fascinating series. The South African top four – no one else really got an innings against Zimbabwe – seem to be as assured as any top four since the great 1970 team but it is likely that both Pollock and coach Graham Ford will have warned against overconfidence during Thursday night's team talk.

For a change, South Africa will not be relying entirely on their bowling to squeeze the opposition to death with Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Kallis and Neil McKenzie, but especially Gibbs, in wonderful early season form. If it all pans out as expected – and if often doesn't – this series could offer up a feast of batting to be savoured, from both South Africa and India. And Kenya? With the best will in the world, Kenya could catch it every few days. But with the World Cup coming up in 2003, this series will be a learning experience for them.

© CricInfo