Javagal Srinath has played his part in bowling India to a position of great strength in the second Test against the West Indies, but he can't help but feel for his good friend and Karnataka team-mate, Anil Kumble. At the end of day two at the Queen's Park Oval, Srinath told pressmen "I definitely think we miss Anil Kumble in this side." This was the first time Kumble had been dropped for a Test match in almost a decade. He had been mediocre at Bourda, and his career overseas record has always been dismal. But this was a move that, though welcomed by some, took all by surprise. "It's a little bit hard for a man of that calibre to sit out of the game. I feel a bit sorry for him. But that's the way that things go sometimes," Srinath said.

Yesterday, when Sachin Tendulkar was asked if India would miss a spinner when bowling last on this pitch, he had almost ventured into an explanation. "See, we thought of a lot of things," before choosing to go no further down that road.

Whether or not Kumble is missed remains to be seen, but a good bowling performance today has put India firmly in control. West Indies trail by 142 runs with four wickets in hand, and Brian Lara is back in the hutch. It was the key wicket, according to Srinath. "As long as he was he was at the crease, batting looked very easy. We all tried hard but the wicket finally went to Zaheer, who bowled a fantastic delivery to get him out."

Actually, it was Srinath who had been picked out for that task. "When I was asked to bowl after tea it was quite obvious we had thought about it. Being a senior member of the side you have to take more responsibility and try to send someone as good as him back pretty early."

Before embarking on this tour, Srinath had remarked ruefully that he had never won anything for India abroad. He is determined to not let it happen again. "We've failed on a few occasions before and we don't want to repeat our mistakes. We have to get them out ideally by 230, but not more than 250, and then put a sizeable total on the board. The way the wicket is playing I think it would a Herculean task for any batsman to come and play well on the last day."

Rahul Bhattacharya is a staff writer with Wisden.com India. His reports will appear here throughout the Test series.

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