If the lessons of history are anything to go by, India have about as much chance of winning in Jamaica as a newly-converted Protestant has of becoming the next Pontiff. India have drawn three of the eight Tests they've played at Sabina Park, including the last one in 1996-97, but the others have resulted in crushing defeats. These two teams contested a series decider here in 1975-6 when a pace attack led by Michael Holding sent half the Indian side to hospital en route to a ten-wicket triumph.

Traditionally, Sabina Park has been something of a batsman's paradise. Andy Sandham made the first-ever triple century here, and Sir Garfield Sobers went 40 runs better in setting what was then the world record score (365*) in 1957-58. For India, Dilip Sardesai made a doughty 212 on that landmark tour of 1970-71.

England totalled a mammoth 849 in Sandham's Test match, and Australia breezed to 758 for 8 back in the days when a match at Sabina Park meant a slow, agonising death for bowlers. In 1953, Pankaj Roy and Vijay Manjrekar scored third-innings hundreds as India battled to 444 (their highest total on this ground), and an honourable draw. West Indies' biggest total against India came in 1962, when Sobers and Kanhai starred in a total of 631 for 8.

In recent years though – barring the disastrous 45-minute Test against England four years ago – the pitch has been kind to both batsmen and bowlers alike. The quicker bowlers hold a considerable edge here: they have got their wickets at 29.11 apiece as opposed to the far more expensive 45.27 for the spinners.

Worryingly for India, this venue has always been exceptionally kind to West Indian greats. Sobers made 1354 of his 8032 runs here, while Courtney Walsh accounted for 48 of his 519 victims on the green, green grass of home.

If India are to script an unlikely victory in Jamaica, they can take heart from Steve Waugh, whose magnificent 200 here seven years ago ended the West Indies' reign as kings of world cricket. Messrs Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman, please take note.

Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden.com in India.

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