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Ganguly to bat at No. 5
Wisden CricInfo staff - April 18, 2002

Sourav Ganguly is likely to drop down to No. 5 in the batting order for the second Test against West Indies, starting at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, on Friday, making way for Rahul Dravid to regain the No. 3 spot. Ganguly had promoted himself to No. 3 for the first Test at Georgetown, but never looked the part in his short stay at the wicket, playing and missing repeatedly before attempting an ungainly hook to be caught at square leg for 5. Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid came in at No. 5 and made an assured, unbeaten 144 and helped India avert the follow-on.

Speaking to newsmen after batting more than two hours in the nets, Ganguly said: "Rahul might bat at No. 3 in this game since he has a class record (at that position). His Test record says that, I don't. I'll bat at No. 5."

After being embarrassed by Meyvyn Dillon and Cameron Cuffy in the Test, Ganguly put in extra efforts at the nets in an attempt to overcome his obvious shortcoming against the short stuff. Openers Wasim Jaffer and SS Das hurled wet tennis balls at the captain from three-quarters of the pitch length, giving Ganguly a thorough workout.

Ganguly also hinted that Sanjay Bangar, a regular opener for his state side Railways in domestic cricket, might be pushed up the order to open the innings in place of Deep Dasgupta, who had a poor match with both bat and gloves. This would allow Ajay Ratra to come into the team to keep wicket.

Ganguly did not rule out the possibility of going into the second Test with just one spinner. "Obviously it will depend on how the wicket looks in the morning of the match. It will be a difficult choice. It depends on Harbhajan's fitness as well."

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd