India prepare for next week's opening Test against West Indies with a prayer on their lips, hoping to find a reliable opening pair in a warm-up game here on Friday. SS Das is the only established opener in the squad, but does not know who his partner will be in the first Test starting at Bourda on April 11. "We have not decided who the openers will be in the practice game," said Indian coach John Wright on the eve of his team's three-day match against Guyana Board President's XI at the Everest ground. India will look to either makeshift opener Deep Dasgupta or Wasim Jaffer to provide a solution to their problem on the two-month tour, featuring five Tests and as many one-day internationals.

Dasgupta began his Test career against South Africa last year as a middle-order batsman before being asked to open the innings, while Jaffer returns from the wilderness after more than a year. He scored just 46 in two Tests against Hansie Cronje's South Africans at home in 2000 before being dumped, but a string of good scores this season got him the selectors' nod.

Dasgupta was initially included as a wicketkeeper, but has performed far more creditably as a batsman, making 344 runs in seven Tests, including a century against England at home last year. His keeping, however, has left a lot to be desired, especially against spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. "We have yet to decide on the opening and wicketkeeping slots, but will surely play with two spinners," said Wright.

There were no such problems for Guyanese manager Ivor Mendonca, who said he was hopeful of an impressive performance from his squad, comprising many youngsters. The first-choice Guyanese team is busy playing the Busta International Shield against Jamaica in Kingston.

"We have some promising youngsters in the team capable of doing well, especially Rayon Griffith who is really quick," said Mendonca, a former wicketkeeper-batsman who played two Tests against India in 1961-62.

Teams
Indians (from) Sourav Ganguly (capt), Shiv Sunder Das, Wasim Jaffer, Deep Dasgupta (wk), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Dinesh Mongia, Ajay Ratra (wk), Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Sanjay Bangar, Tinu Yohannan, Ashish Nehra.

Guyana Board President's XI (from) Travis Dowlin (capt), Andrew Gonsalves, Krishna Arjune, Narsingh Deonarine, Homchan Pooran, Vishal Arjune, Damodar Dasrath, Vishal Nagamootoo, Hemnarine Harinarin, Kevin Bazil, Esau Crandon, Rayon Griffith, Rayon Thomas.

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