Harbhajan Singh is a doubtful starter for the first Test which starts at Georgetown on Friday (April 11) after sustaining a shoulder injury during the first day of India's three-day match against a Guyana Board President's XI. Harbhajan suffered the injury when returning the ball from the boundary. He has flown to Trinidad for a scan and the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has asked offspinner Sarandeep Singh to stand-by in case Harbhajan is sidelined for anything other than a few days.

"Harbhajan experienced an uncomfortable sensation on the right shoulder during a single hard throw from the boundary during the match," team physio Andrew Leipus said. "Once an objective clinical picture is established, we will be able to provide a better prognosis and decide on his availablity for the first Test."

Meanwhile, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said he was not worried over his team's batting performance in the warm-up match which they won by nine wickets.

"Some of us played poor shots, but there's no need to worry," said Ganguly. But privately the failure of India's renowned middle order of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman was a continuing concern. Tendulkar contributed only 18 and Dravid made 2 before falling to fast bowler Reon Griffith, while Laxman (43) could not capitalise on a good start.

Allrounder Sanjay Bangar put the hosts' attack in perspective, staying at the crease for more than three hours to top-score with an unbeaten 76 in India's first-innings 248.

"It's the first game of the tour. A couple of batsmen did make the most of the opportunity by spending time in the middle. I'm sure our batting will pick up as the tour progresses," said Ganguly, who was the second-highest scorer himself with 52.

He said his bowlers performed better in the match by dismissing the President's XI for 118 and 168. Legspinner Anil Kumble was the leading wicket-taker with seven, followed by offspinner Harbhajan Singh (five) and pacemen Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan (four each).

Ganguly said he was confident his batsmen would be able to raise their performance in the Tests. "The better the attack, the more you concentrate," said Ganguly, whose team later lost a 21-overs-a-side exhibition match against the same opposition by 88 runs.

The Indians, without five of their main players, crawled to 47 for no loss in reply to their opponents' 135 for 5, much to the disappointment of nearly 500 spectators at the Everest ground.

India's coach John Wright defended his team's slow batting, saying that playing a match was better than having nets. "We looked at it as a practice opportunity in a match-like situation. It was better than having nets and I won't blame the batsmen." Rahul Dravid and Wasim Jaffer each scored 22 not out in 21 overs.

India play five Tests and as many one-day internationals on their two-month tour, seeking their first Test series win in the West Indies since 1970-71, when Ajit Wadekar's team clinched a five-match series 1-0.

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