Kaif likely to come in at No. 3

Galle, August 12: No Sachin Tendulkar. No VVS Laxman. Indian batting has not had it so poor in the recent past. This is the rather bleak scenario into which Mohammad Kaif is likely to walk in, in an effort to bolster the willow-wielding strength of India when they take on Sri Lanka in the first of the three Tests here on Aug 14.

On top of that, he is likely to come in at the crucial one-down position, if the team authorities are to be believed.

This may sound like a rather surprise move considering that, in Laxman's absence, one would have assumed that it would be Rahul Dravid. But the logic behind keeping Kaif up the order seems to be to keep him away from Muttiah Muralitharan.

The Indians' probable line-up for the first Test looks pretty interesting as the skipper and coach seem inclined to play three seamers, a situation brought about by the amount of grass on the pitch at the Galle International Stadium.

"Have you seen the practice pitches," Wright asked inquiring journalists here this morning. He was referring to some pretty green strips. "Well, the Test pitch has more grass on it than the practice pitches."

All the players, apart from Sadagoppan Ramesh and skipper Sourav Ganguly had a hit at the nets. While Ramesh did some knocking outside the nets, Ganguly did not bat or bowl as he was running a slight temperature.

He did participate in the fielding practice. However, there is no possibility of Ganguly missing out on the Test, which begins on August 14. Coach John Wright said that the Bengal left-hander would certainly play.

While the issue of the grass might come as a pretty dismaying piece of news for the Indians, the move to have a seamer-friendly pitch seems to be quite predictable. Sri Lanka have named five medium-pacers — Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Ruchira Perera, Suresh Perera and Dulip Liyanage — in their probable squad for this Test.

Another factor behind this move is Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore's plan to make the Lankans play on hard pitches to prepare them for the World Cup in South Africa. So, there is a distinct possibility that the islanders may field three, or even four, seamers. One thing, however, may prompt a change in this scenario. Sri Lanka are almost sure to open with skipper Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu, and if reports are to be believed, then captain is not too keen on taking on the fast stuff on a hard pitch. That may just lead to some of the grass on the track being taken off on Monday, and consequently, might lead to some alterations in the combinations of the sides as well.