India's captain Sourav Ganguly said he expected an improved performance from his openers and lower-order batsmen in the remaining three Tests against West Indies.

"(Venkatsai) Laxman will lead the team," Ganguly said, adding he hoped the lower-order batsmen and openers would be able to contribute in the only warm-up game before the third Test, beginning at Bridgetown in Barbados on May 2.

India's batting problems began with the cheap dismissals of their wicketkeeper in both Tests as none of the lower-order batsmen could cope with the West Indian pace attack. Deep Dasgupta scored 0 in the opening Test and Ajay Ratra fell for a duck and 2 in the second.

The tourists lost their last six wickets for 63 runs in the first innings of the Port-of-Spain Test and as many wickets for a meagre 13 in the second.

"Its a good opportunity for the tail-enders to get some runs," said Ganguly. "The lower-order batsmen did well in the first Test. I hope they bat better in Barbados."

The Indian runs have come only from the middle-order batsmen, with Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly looking in good form. Dravid and Tendulkar already have a Test hundred in this series, while Laxman has slammed three successive half-centuries. Ganguly's return to form with an unbeaten 75 in the second innings of the second Test augurs well for India, whose top and lower-order batsmen have done little of note.

Finding a solid opening pair is turning out to be a problem for India, who have tried different pairs in the first two Tests. SS Das opened the innings with Dasgupta in the first Test and with Sanjay Bangar in the second, but neither pair got a start.

"Bangar and (Wasim) Jaffer might open in the practice game, with Das coming at No. 3. They've scored runs in India. Lets see us how they perform against the Busta team which has a decent attack," said Ganguly.

Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacob leads the Busta XI, which has five players with international experience. Jacobs gets an opportunity to regain his Test place following the batting failures of Junior Murray, who has scored just one in three innings against the Indians. Darren Ganga, Wavell Hinds, Dinanath Ramnarine and Ryan Hinds are the others who would be keen to do well in the practice game in order to stage a comeback into the West Indies Test squad for the last three matches.

Teams
India Wasim Jaffer, Sanjay Bangar, SS Das, Deep Dasgupta, VVS Laxman (capt), Dinesh Mongia, Ajay Ratra (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Sarandeep Singh, Tinu Yohannan.

Busta XI (Squad) Devon Smith, Darren Ganga, Wavell Hinds, Ryan Hinds, Tino Best, Ridley Jacobs (capt & wk), Kerry Jeremy, Dinanath Ramnarine, Darren Powell, Gareth Breese, Pedro Collins, Runako Morton.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd